Hong Kong’s data centre boom: Powering innovation or jeopardising climate goals?
Steven Chan writes that “behind the gleaming servers and promised economic gains lies a sobering reality: our data centres are becoming one of the territory’s largest electricity consumers and carbon emitters, and current energy conservation policy is dangerously out of date.”
City must proactively secure essential resources
In this regard, as far as I can tell, the only aid offered by the Hong Kong government was the weekly publication of retail fuel prices after discounts offered by oil companies, starting on April 1. However, critics said this was simply inadequate. On April 9, the government proposed providing diesel subsidies to public and commercial vehicles and vessels, and related industries, and reducing tunnel tolls by half for commercial vehicles. Why does our government only seem to react to escalating public pressure rather than itself considering the needs of the public, particularly during difficult times?
Hong Kong chief executive can’t treat the environment like a side dish
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has been soliciting public views for his fourth policy address while stressing the importance of boosting the economy, innovative development and people's livelihoods. The recent black rainstorms remind us of the urgency of building climate resilience against extreme weather. Lee must give high priority to sustainability in order to strengthen our resilience to financial, environmental and social risks – the three key pillars of sustainable development.




