In a Bloomberg article written by William Pesek Jr., he states that China's fight against pollution will likely lead to inflation. He also notes that in the past several years many new factories may have invested in China specifically due to the lax pollution controls. Who knows what the costs of this lack of policy have been in China, but in Hong Kong it is estimated cost over $300 million in additional healthcare bills per year.
Read the full article, courtesy of Envirovaluation.org by clicking here.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Exxon: move your HQ to Hong Kong!
Slightly off-topic, but I've just read a post from Dr. Jeff Master's WunderBlog (must read!) about how Exxon and other fossil fuel companies are funding the U.S. based Competitive Enterprise Institute and their misleading ads that claim CO2 emissions are not harmful with the tag-line, "Carbon Dioxide: they call it pollution, we call it life."
Read WunderBlog to understand this cynical reactive PR campaign being published in response Al Gore's new film, An Inconvenient Truth.
If Exxon and the other fossil fuel companies think CO2 is such great stuff then InvestHK should really be giving them a call. pronto!
Read WunderBlog to understand this cynical reactive PR campaign being published in response Al Gore's new film, An Inconvenient Truth.
If Exxon and the other fossil fuel companies think CO2 is such great stuff then InvestHK should really be giving them a call. pronto!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Hong Kong Pollution Driving Expats Away
Another article in today's The Standard talks about exatriates in Hong Kong leaving the city or refusing to move here due to Hong Kong's terrible air quality.
The article points out issues that all of us living here are already familiar with: The government doesn't even acknowledge some of its pollutants (in particular fine particulates) , the pollution is getting worse, not better, the consequences on health are terrible (though Hong Kong's Department of Health has no mention of pollution on their website).
While corporates in Hong Kong had previously not publicly commented on pollution, it's interesting to see that many are now making public announcements to express their displeasure with the situation.
Sadly, some of Hong Kong's most influential multinatials, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank (sponsor of the yearly marathon here), are doing nothing... The nature of their commitment to the welfare of this community has always been tenuous. In Hong Kong this matters because of the 'functional constituency' system used in government, where companies and trade groups (not individual residents) are the primary directors of government policy.
Read the full article here.
The article points out issues that all of us living here are already familiar with: The government doesn't even acknowledge some of its pollutants (in particular fine particulates) , the pollution is getting worse, not better, the consequences on health are terrible (though Hong Kong's Department of Health has no mention of pollution on their website).
While corporates in Hong Kong had previously not publicly commented on pollution, it's interesting to see that many are now making public announcements to express their displeasure with the situation.
Sadly, some of Hong Kong's most influential multinatials, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank (sponsor of the yearly marathon here), are doing nothing... The nature of their commitment to the welfare of this community has always been tenuous. In Hong Kong this matters because of the 'functional constituency' system used in government, where companies and trade groups (not individual residents) are the primary directors of government policy.
Read the full article here.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
How Much Pollution are Hong Kong Companies Emitting?
One reasonable way of coming to grips with our pollution problem in Hong Kong and Guangdong would be to first try to understand how much of each of the major pollutants companies are emitting on a yearly basis.
Apparently the U.S. EPA requires that pollution emitting industries provide a yearly estimate of the types and amount of pollution they are emitting.
Unfortunately this does not seem to be a requirement in Hong Kong. It would be interesting to know how much pollution New World First Bus (and First Ferry), for example, emit into our atmosphere every year.
If you're interested in reading more about air pollution generally, check out wunderblog.
It's been three days since Typhoon Chanchu swept by Hong Kong and the skies have quicky returned back to their usual low-visibility :(
Apparently the U.S. EPA requires that pollution emitting industries provide a yearly estimate of the types and amount of pollution they are emitting.
Unfortunately this does not seem to be a requirement in Hong Kong. It would be interesting to know how much pollution New World First Bus (and First Ferry), for example, emit into our atmosphere every year.
If you're interested in reading more about air pollution generally, check out wunderblog.
It's been three days since Typhoon Chanchu swept by Hong Kong and the skies have quicky returned back to their usual low-visibility :(
Friday, May 19, 2006
Another beautiful day... but no Hong Kong Pollution?
Another post-typhoon stunning day in Hong Kong... but sadly looks can deceive. A quick glance at the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) this morning shows that pollution levels in most parts of urban Hong Kong is in the 'high' zone above '50'. Remember that Hong Kong's '50' in many instances (though it depends on the actual mix of pollutants) equates to about '100' in the World Health Organization air quality proposed guidelines that are likely to mirror those of the EU. ... with the recommendation to avoid strenous exercise....
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wow - No Hong Kong Pollution! ... must be a typhoon in the 'hood!
The air quality has been superb the last few days, and today the visibility was better than I can remember for a long, long time... you could clearly see the mountain ridges on the other side of the harbour!
A great entry appears at SimonWorld
A great entry appears at SimonWorld
Friday, May 12, 2006
Clear the Air: an excellent resource on Hong Kong Pollution
If you're looking for ONE website to provide you with a summary of Hong Kong's putrid air quality, check out ClearTheAir.org.hk
I particularly like the chart that shows Hong Kong's current pollution levels rated on the basis of the European Union's air quality standards. Roughly speaking, a reading of "50" according to Hong Kong's EPD standards seems to equate to around 100 in the EU's air quality standards. However, the reality is that it is a tough comparison to make, because each jurisdiction treats individual pollutants differently. Therefore it is most accurate to compare based on individual pollutants.
To view a side-by-side comparison, view this page at Greenpeace: http://api.greenpeace.org.hk/index.php?lang=en
Thankfully, I've been in Singapore the last two weeks, where the air quality is much better (though levels of micro-particulates are still higher than ideal). Cheap flights (especially at zuji.com and jetstarasia.com) are making the commute between Hong Kong and Singapore easier and easier. For those looking for a temporary carcinogen break, perhaps consider the Singapore commute.
I particularly like the chart that shows Hong Kong's current pollution levels rated on the basis of the European Union's air quality standards. Roughly speaking, a reading of "50" according to Hong Kong's EPD standards seems to equate to around 100 in the EU's air quality standards. However, the reality is that it is a tough comparison to make, because each jurisdiction treats individual pollutants differently. Therefore it is most accurate to compare based on individual pollutants.
To view a side-by-side comparison, view this page at Greenpeace: http://api.greenpeace.org.hk/index.php?lang=en
Thankfully, I've been in Singapore the last two weeks, where the air quality is much better (though levels of micro-particulates are still higher than ideal). Cheap flights (especially at zuji.com and jetstarasia.com) are making the commute between Hong Kong and Singapore easier and easier. For those looking for a temporary carcinogen break, perhaps consider the Singapore commute.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Time Magazine features article on Hong Kong Pollution
For a good summary of how terrible the air quality is in Hong Kong, read this article: http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501060515/hk_air.html
If anything, the article is very polite towards the leading companies and government of Hong Kong. The government currently has no comprehensive plan to battle pollution. The departmeent of health (http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/) doesn't even feature air pollution as a health concern and provides no advice to asthma sufferers, children and the elderly. The Transport Department (http://www.td.gov.hk/home/index.htm) has no clear policy on regarding pollution and what it intends to do to reduce it.
If anything, the article is very polite towards the leading companies and government of Hong Kong. The government currently has no comprehensive plan to battle pollution. The departmeent of health (http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/) doesn't even feature air pollution as a health concern and provides no advice to asthma sufferers, children and the elderly. The Transport Department (http://www.td.gov.hk/home/index.htm) has no clear policy on regarding pollution and what it intends to do to reduce it.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
down but not out!
Hong Kong pollution continues to deteriorate by the month!
Most recently, Civic Exchange and AsiaExpat jointly hosted a very informative forum in Central. If you care about your health and live in Hong Kong, I urge you to fill in this petition and also glance at some of the experts' findings that have been posted below the petition:
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/petition/
The World Health Organization Air quality guidelines (referred to in the link above) that come into effect in September of this year will be highly embarrassing for Hong Kong, as it will be failing these guidelines virtually every single day of the month. Of particular concern is the situation in Hong Kong regarding micro-particulates that our lungs are not able to filter and therefore enter into our bloodstream.
Please sign the petition!
Most recently, Civic Exchange and AsiaExpat jointly hosted a very informative forum in Central. If you care about your health and live in Hong Kong, I urge you to fill in this petition and also glance at some of the experts' findings that have been posted below the petition:
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/petition/
The World Health Organization Air quality guidelines (referred to in the link above) that come into effect in September of this year will be highly embarrassing for Hong Kong, as it will be failing these guidelines virtually every single day of the month. Of particular concern is the situation in Hong Kong regarding micro-particulates that our lungs are not able to filter and therefore enter into our bloodstream.
Please sign the petition!
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