Hong Kong carbon emissions plunge 27% from 2014 peak

Renewable energy adoption contributed to emissions decrease.

Hong Kong’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continued their downward trend in 2024, dropping 3.6% from 2023, according to the latest GHG emission inventory released by the Environment and Ecology Bureau on 22 January.

Total GHG emissions were approximately 33.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), about 27% below the 2014 peak.

Per capita emissions fell to 4.41 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), a 3.5% year-on-year decline and a new low.

Hong Kong’s emissions per person remain significantly lower than those of major developed economies.

Electricity generation remained the largest emissions source, accounting for 61% of total emissions, followed by transport (18%) and waste management (8%).

Efforts to replace coal with natural gas and zero-carbon energy, increase electric vehicle adoption, reduce municipal solid waste and expand landfill gas recovery contributed to decreases in emissions from these sectors, according to the report.

Hong Kong’s emission performance aligns with its ongoing implementation of climate strategies under the Climate Action Plan 2050, which targets halving emissions from 2005 levels by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.