The 12th Eco Expo Asia Set For October Information Exchange on Green Tech; Joint Efforts in Reducing Waste Discharge to Combat Global Warming

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, and co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the 12th Eco Expo Asia will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from 26 to 29 October 2017. The Expo will showcase leading-edge environmental technology solutions from around the world, and provide an excellent platform for industry information exchange as well as to inspire young entrepreneurs. A networking luncheon on “Global Trend of Green Innovations” for the Expo was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 10 March and welcomed representatives from local and international governments and business sectors. The guests shared insights into the use of innovative technologies that would help to balance economic development with environmental protection.

HKSAR Government to promote energy saving, waste reduction and food cherishing;
Multi-pronged carbon reduction strategy 
In his keynote luncheon speech, Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Governmentremarked that climate change is the most pressing issue for countries around the world at present. The Paris Agreement under the United Nations aims to keep global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the middle of the 21st Century. “Globally we are far from reaching this goal in terms of actual carbon emissions and their trend. Therefore, we wish to encourage innovative and breakthrough practices, including transforming social behavior and developing green technologies to help narrow the gap,” Mr Wong said.

To fulfill the obligations of the Paris Agreement, the government has identified four key focuses for its environmental policies and measures for carbon reduction, including cleaner energy, building energy conservation and efficiency, green transportation and waste-to-energy and waste reduction. However, Mr Wong pinpointed that food is the largest single source of waste in Hong Kong, as it constitutes over 30 per cent of the city’s municipal solid waste. In view of this, the Environment Bureau is tackling the issue at its source. The “Food Wise Hong Kong” campaign has been launched to enhance public awareness and promote behavioral change of cherishing food resources and collaborating with eateries to reduce food waste. The government also employs modern technologies to convert food waste into green energy and optimises the use of technological innovations for turning waste to resources. The multi-pronged measures are implemented to help build a low-carbon Hong Kong.

Encouraging young people to enhance technological development
Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said that environmental technology is a fast-changing industry that holds the key to sustainable development. This topic is becoming more important, and Eco Expo Asia plays a prominent role in promoting the industry. He mentioned that the Expo attracted 325 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions and more than 13,000 buyers in 2016, setting new records in both exhibitor and buyer figures. It also provided an excellent platform for industry leaders from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and around the world to exchange latest market intelligence.

To nurture young start-ups in the eco industry, this year’s Eco Expo Asia will feature a Startup Zone for the first time. “We welcome young entrepreneurs and start-ups from around the world to make use of this opportunity and showcase their latest inventions at the Expo.”

Circular economy to balance economic development with environmental protectionDuring the luncheon, Jari Sinkari, Consul-General, Consulate General of Finland, Hong Kong & Macao said the development of a Circular Economy is a possible direction for balancing economic development and environment protection. “It is only through recycling the waste of one industry into raw materials for another industry that economic development and waste discharge reduction can be achieved at the same time,” he said.

During the question and answer session, Mr Sinkari stated that, be it in Finland or Hong Kong, smart ventilation systems and energy-saving equipment are equally important in buildings. Mr Wong agreed, noting that 90 per cent of Hong Kong’s electricity consumption involves buildings. He said that the Environment Bureau has begun launching energy efficiency initiatives in government buildings, and works with major related property developers and institutions to reduce energy consumption purposefully in commercial and institutional buildings with relatively large power consumption. As for waste reduction, the government plans to fully implement quantity-based municipal solid waste charging in the second half of 2019 at the earliest, which is expected to lead to a notable reduction in the city’s municipal solid waste.

Luther Wong, President Emeritus, The Professional Validation Council of Hong Kong Industries and Managing Director, C&G Environmental Technology Ltd pointed out that there is substantial demand for environmental technology in the Chinese mainland, though the industry also sets high standards for relevant products and solutions. Therefore, industry players who wish to enter the mainland market may make use of Hong Kong as a springboard. He said, “The Expo provides an excellent platform for industry professionals from around the world to network and exchange ideas. I hope we will all continue to strive and contribute to the promotion of environmental protection.”