Environmental Education

1. Environmental Education Sustainable Development

2. Content • Definition of “sustainable development” • Importance of sustainable development • Sustainable development in Hong Kong

3. Definition of “Sustainable Development” • The concept of “Sustainability” originates from ecology • Resources Management Strategy: • resources would be replenished enough to compensate for the harvesting • “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” • Two main parts: • Reflection and negation of traditional development approaches • Establishment of the model of sustainable development

4. Importance of Sustainable Development [1] • Environmental • Economic • Social • Cultural • Political

5. Importance of Sustainable Development [2] • Proposition and recognition of the theory of sustainable development • “World Conservation Strategy” • “Global Agenda for Change” • “Our Common Future” • Agenda 21 • ‘Carrying capacity of the environment’: • The population and economy that a certain set of resources can support at a given time • Two basic viewpoints: • the need for development of the human society • development should be limited that would not threaten the development of the next generation.

6. Sustainable Development should be able to: • Establish a sustainable society • Respect and conserve community life • Improve the quality of life of human • Maintain the vitality and diversity on the earth • Be within the carrying capacity of the environment • Alter the attitudes and lifestyles of individuals • Arouse the concern for environment of the community among citizens • Establish a national network that can reconcile development with protection • Establish a global alliance

7. Problems faced by Hong Kong • Hong Kong is confronted with the challenges of the development process with: • Increasing population has caused housing become scarcer and overcrowding could become more common. • Increasing domestic demand in transport infrastructure as well as regional trade • Litter and other types of pollution reduce the attractiveness of our coastline as well as other region to tourists and residents. They can also endanger animal and human health.

8. Impact on Sustainable Development in Hong Kong from the Development of the Pearl River Delta Region • Pearl River Delta Region continues to grow and its co-dependency with Hong Kong increases: • supply of water and food and their quality will be threatened • issues with cross-boundary pollution • a series of problems introduced by social integration and the provision of infrastructure • Growth for the Pearl River Delta Region slows down and its co-dependency with Hong Kong decrease : • There will be less social and environmental impact on Hong Kong. • There will be no positive influence to the economy of Hong Kong.

9. The Definition of Sustainable Development For Hong Kong • “Sustainable Development in Hong Kong balances social, economic, environmental and resource needs, both for present and future generations, simultaneously achieving a vibrant economy, social progress and a high quality environment, locally, nationally and internationally, through the efforts of the community and the Government.”

10. The Importance of Sustainable Development to Hong Kong • In the Hong Kong context, the benefits of increased sustainability include: • reduced wastage thereby providing economic benefits; • improved health and reduced economic burden on health care; • more efficient land use and improved amenity from natural and open areas; • greater competitive advantage as Hong Kong's regional and international image as a clean, safe and sophisticated world city is enhanced; and • greater community ownership of quality of life issues.

11. Sustainable Development in Hong Kong • Society • Economy • Environment Balance

12. What have been done for sustainable development in Hong Kong? • Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century • Hong Kong 2030 Planning Vision and Strategy • Legislation and Regulation • Programs and Services • Cross-border cooperation • Elevate the environmental awareness among citizens

13. Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century • Commenced in September, 1997, lasted for 30 months • Laying down the definition of sustainable development for Hong Kong • Work out the thresholds, guidelines & indexes that would bring these goals into reality • Propose benchmarks & mechanisms to ensure that considerations for sustainability would be taken into account during policy planning & decision making • Indexes being used in the study: • Economy, Health and Hygiene, Natural Resources, Society and Social Infrastructure, Biodiversity, Leisure and Cultural Vibrancy, Environmental Quality, Mobility

14. Hong Kong 2030 Planning Vision and Strategy • The planning department is formulating a new planning framework • Hong Kong resident will have an opportunity to participate in determining this city's land use, transport features and environment for the next 30 years. • Divided into four stages which link to the four key stages of the study: • Stage I : identifying planning objectives and key issues • Stage II : examining the key issues and evaluative criteria • Stage III : formulating scenarios and options • Stage IV : formulating development strategies ad response plans.

15. Planning Objectives of “Hong Kong 2030” • Adhering to the principle of sustainable development to balance social, economic and environmental needs for present and future generations. • Providing a good quality living environment • Meeting housing and community needs by providing adequate land and infrastructure for the development of housing and community facilities. • Providing a framework to develop a safe, efficient, economically variable, and environmentally friendly transport system. • Promoting tourism to ensure Hong Kong will continue to be the major tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region. • Strengthening links with the Mainland to cope with the rapid growth of cross-boundary interactions.

16. Key Study Areas in “Hong Kong 2030” • International Town Planning Experiences • Population Forecasts and Its Implication on Housing and Employment • New Development Opportunities • Requirements of Port and Other Major Infrastructure Facilities • Environmental Considerations and Conservation • Improving Links with the Mainland • Potential for Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Development • Implications for Information Technology Development 

17. Legislation and Regulation[1] • Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance • Regulating Pollution • Environmental Monitoring and Investigations

18. Programs & Services • Waste Reduction Framework Plan • Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme • Trial of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Taxis • Air Pollution Index

19. Cross-border cooperation • Cooperation by HK, Guangdong & Macau, join hands to work out planning, environmental protection & policy, to achieve sustainable development • In 1990 the Hong Kong-Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group was established to see how the two administrations could work together to understand and control regional pollution. Officials from the SAR & Guangdong Province are exchanging information

20. Elevate the environmental awareness among citizens • Organizing many different environmental education campaigns • Putting green elements in the school curriculum for environmental education • Try its efforts to be an environmental-friendly government • Encourage environmental audit and management in the private sectors

21. How can we be involved? • Be a "green" consumer • Be an "energy-efficient" user and a "friend" of the environment • Be a "contributor" to health and social welfare • Be an "asset" to our economy

22. Discussion • What are the factors do you think that will have great effects to the promotion of the sustainable development in HK ? • Can you list some examples of species which are being threatened by the development of economies or towns in HK ? • Why these kind of development will affect the environment of ecology ?

23. Relevant Websites • Environmental Department (http://www.info.gov.hk/epd) • Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (http://www.hkbws.org.hk) • Kowloon—Canton Railway Corporation: Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (http://www.kcrc.com/chi/service/erxsstlmc.html) • Ming Pao –Fate of Long Valley (http://www.mingpaonews.com/longvalley/index.htm) • Environmental Impact Assessment & Ordinance • (http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/eia/chi/index_content.htm) • The Planning and Lands Bureau (http://www.plb.gov.hk/index.htm) • Planning Department (http://www.info.gov.hk/planning/index.htm) • Planning Department-Hong Kong 2030 Planning Vision and Strategy (http://www.info.gov.hk/hk2030/index.htm) • Town Planning Board (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/)