Total emissions drop by 25% from peak in 2023

Electricity generation continued to be the major source of emissions.

Hong Kong’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023 amounted to approximately 34.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), marking a 20% drop from 2005 levels and a decline of around 25% from the peak emissions in 2014, according to the Environment & Ecology Bureau.

Per capita GHG emissions amounted to approximately 4.58 tonnes in 2023, a new low since 1990 and 30% lower compared with 2005 and 2014. It is also about a quarter of the US level and 60% of the European Union level.

Carbon intensity in 2023 was 0.012 kg CO2-e per Hong Kong dollar GDP, about 46% lower than that in 2005.

Electricity generation continued to be the major source of emissions, generating 61% of total emissions in 2023.

Other major emission sources were transport, accounting for 18% of the total, and waste management, which accounted for 8%.