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Climate Change Corner
Climate Change Effects Impacted by Industrial Activities in Pearl River Delta Region
People are intrinsically interested in the wealth indicator Gross Domestic Product (GDP) whilst they
pay less attention on the deleterious influence brought about by this figure. The economic loss due to
environmental pollution is about 10 percent of the China’s GDP in 2006. Will people become more
concerned about the climate change effect if the impact can be analyzed and reported regularly as the
GDP?
The booming economy and fast-growing industrialization in China has made herself the world’s
second biggest emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG), the major culprit for climate change. China’s annual
average growth rate of GHG emissions was around 4 percent from 1994 to 2004 and it is estimated
that the emissions will grow until 2050. The major contributor to such alarming GHG emission should
be the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region which has become one of the world’s leading manufacturing
centres.
The heavy reliance on coal fire power plants as well as the polluting practices adopted by some of the
factories in PRD is threatening the environment and economy, and its neighboring regions. The
inadequate awareness and support of efficient energy utilization and pollution control also aggravate
the pollution problem and the climate change effect. Exploring alternative energy resources and
supporting the enterprises in applying cleaner production technologies and practices should be the
sustainable solution to alleviate the climate change effect.
The Government of Hong Kong Special Administration Region has launched the Cleaner Production
Partnership Programme (CPPP) to encourage Hong Kong-owned factories within the PRD Region to
adopt cleaner production technologies and processes aiming at reducing air emission and enhancing
energy efficiency. Through providing funding support to the industries, this Programme targets to (a)
promote awareness; (b) optimize the operation of furnaces, boilers, emergency generators; and
adopting air pollution control system to reduce air pollutant emissions; (c) minimize Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOC) emissions through switching to the use of low VOC emitting substances; (d)
improve energy efficiency thereby reducing air pollutant emissions generated from fuel combustion at
power plants or thermal-power plants for factories. The Mainland Government may consider using
similar approach as the CPPP to help other non-Hong Kong based factories on adopting cleaner
production technologies and practices. The authorities may also consider putting more resources in
research and development of cleaner production technologies and providing support to the industries.
Breaking the strong historical link between rising GDP and rising GHG emission will forge a new
route to the sustainable economic development in China including Hong Kong.
1.
2.
3.
China Briefing: Issue 1, The Climate Group
http://www.theclimategroup.org/assets/resources/china_briefing_issue1.pdf
The Environment Council of Macao Special Administrative Region
http://www.ambiente.gov.mo/tchinese/07/lotus15/l1508.asp
The EPOCH TIMES, 24 Oct 2007
http://hk.epochtimes.com/7/10/24/53654.htm
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This article is contributed by Ir Kenny Wong, Principal Consultant, and Ms. Angel Wong, Associate
Consultant, of the Environmental Management Division of Hong Kong Productivity Council