Since 2007, DSD has joined the Inter-departmental Working Group on Climate Change set up by the Environment Bureau for formulating polices and measures in adapting climate change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. In support of “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+” (Action Plan) published by the Government in 2017 that encourages extensive use of renewable energy, DSD has actively implemented energy-saving initiatives and adopted solar power, hydropower and biogas to generate energy (Please refer to Chapter 1 Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Promoting Sustainable Development in Hong Kong for details).

To address global warming, DSD maintains close connection with other cities and regions and joined the Connecting Delta Cities, a subsidiary of the international organisation C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, and represents the HKSAR Government to exchange flood prevention techniques with other delta cities. DSD is also a member of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Joint Liaison Group on Combating Climate Change.

In 2018-19, we continued to optimise the operation of our sewage treatment works and sewage pumping stations, as well as replace aging equipment with more energy efficient ones to save energy. Concurrently, we promoted wider use of renewable energy. The measures taken include:

• Replacing conventional lighting with light emitting diode (LED) type
• Optimising operation procedures and replacing equipment with more energy efficient ones at sewage treatment works and sewage pumping stations
• Installing photovoltaic solar panels
• Installing tri-generation system (electricity, heat and cooling)
• Installing hydro-turbine system

During the year, the above measures saved a total of about 0.91 million kilowatt-hours of electricity (equivalent to carbon reduction of about 637 tonnes¹).

Carbon Audit

To further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from daily operation, carbon audits are conducted under DSD’s facilities in order to identify major sources of emissions. During the year, carbon audits were carried out at Stonecutters Island STW, Sha Tin STW, Tai Po STW, Shek Wu Hui STW, Siu Ho Wan STW, Stanley STW and Sham Tseng STW. With appropriate measures like reducing energy consumption of machinery, enhancing operation efficiency and using renewable energy, we have successfully lowered greenhouse gas emissions.

In future, DSD will continue to conduct carbon audits in STWs and adopt appropriate carbon reduction measures to provide quality storm water drainage and sewage treatment services for the public in the most environmentally friendly manner.