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Preamble – Let’s revisit the following background information before completing this views collection form

• To combat climate change, the Paris Agreement has set a carbon reduction target – holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• To meet this target, the whole society needs to step up efforts by implementing a host of measures, including adopting a low-carbon lifestyle, enhancing energy efficiency and using more zero carbon fuel sources for electricity generation, coupled with technological advancements, in order to further reduce carbon emissions. (See P.14; 17-21; 41-42 of the PE document)
• This means the pattern of our daily lives and behaviour is required to adapt to the transition towards low-carbon lifestyles, including the adoption of “Use Less, Waste Less” practices, low-carbon diets, energy and water conservation, and low-carbon transportation for daily and holiday journeys. (See P.22-26; 30-31 and 44 of the PE document)
• Currently, about 67% of Hong Kong’s carbon emissions come from electricity generation (See P.17 of the PE document). In this regard, further carbon reduction in electricity generation is one of the key factors in overall carbon reduction for Hong Kong. In the long run, to comply with the decarbonisation target, we must increase the proportion of zero carbon energy in our fuel mix through very close regional cooperation, meaning importation of more electricity including renewable and / or nuclear energy from the Mainland. The gradual replacement of old power plants running up to 2050 by the use of cleaner energy is timely to help progress the decarbonisation journey. Regardless of the fuel type and sources to be chosen, the cost of electricity supply would increase due to the replacement of the retiring plants and the higher costs of cleaner energy. However, as the cost impact would depend on a host of factors, it would be premature to make any meaningful assessment on the tariff impact for 2050. (See P.29 of the PE document)
• It is noteworthy that, according to the Paris Agreement, while Hong Kong has set, and is on track to achieve, the 2030 carbon reduction target, to formulate and reach a 2050 target is rather challenging. To pursue a more aggressive target would be an even more formidable challenge, entailing more significant costs for society and more substantial changes to the lifestyles and behavioural patterns of the public.