HK Government Should Grasp Opportunity to Control Power Plant CO₂ Emissions
Greenpeace HK press release
20/02/2008

On the occasion of the United Nations Global Climate Change Summit in Bali four Greenpeace representatives riding in two boats approached the CLP Coal Power Plant on Green Mountain (Qingshan), climbed to the top of a 30m high smoke stack and abseiled down, unfurling a 15m by 15m banner which read in giant characters “Climate Murder Ongoing Here”. They demanded that the Hong Kong government directly confront climate change at its source by controlling power station CO₂ emissions.

In Hong Kong residents are experiencing an abnormally cold winter. Actually it is the second severest winter since records began; the first one people still remember as if it were only yesterday. Climate change is already influencing the lives of all people, but power stations, which may be regarded as Hong Kong’s largest emitter of claimte disrupting CO₂ gases, are not subject to any controls. On the 20th of February the government will submit a draft to the Legislative Council preparing to amend the “Air Pollution Control Act” legislation which lays down limits, effective from 2010, on air polluting emissions of power stations. But will the government actually take this opportunity to regulate power station CO₂ emissions?

The Special Regional government has always downplayed the dangers of climate change. Power station emissions account for 70% of Hong Kong’s CO₂ and constitute the territory’s principle source of greenhouse gas. However, till now the government has shown no interest in curbing CO₂ emissions. Only in October last year it issued a report which revealed that it had reached a profit control agreement with electric companies without taking the chance to formulate related policies or provisions.

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On one hand the government expresses concern about power plant air pollution but on the other it turns a blind eye to CO₂ emissions, showing that officials only treat symptoms as they occur (lit. to treat the head when it hurts) and lack any vision or sense of responsibility towards the environment. In Britain and America national and state governments have already established CO₂ emission limits for power stations that all governments should emulate.

The HK government should grasp this vital, one-time opportunity to slow climate change and improve air quality. If this chance is missed the control of CO₂ emissions will move even further out of reach.

Greenpeace is planning a campaign to exert pressure on the government, calling on activists, city dwellers and all people to demand that the government incorporate CO₂ emission limits into the “Air Pollution Control Act” and confront the crisis of climate change.

We hope when the time comes we will have your support!

Excerpts from original text:

當聯合國在峇里舉行舉世矚目的氣候變化峰會之際,綠色和平四名代表分別乘坐兩艘船隻,前往中電的青山燃煤發電廠,並爬上30米高的煤灰筒倉頂部游繩而下,拉開一張長15米闊15米、寫上「氣候殺手在此」的巨型橫額,要求香港政府直接從源頭對抗氣候變化,立即管制電廠的二氧化碳排放。

政府一邊表示重視發電廠的空氣污染物,一邊卻對其二氧化碳排放視而不見。這顯示官員仍只是頭痛醫頭、腳痛醫腳,欠缺對環境的承擔和長遠視野。看看英國及美國部分州分的政府,他們都已針對發電廠制定二氧化碳排放上限,政府都應該效法。