image: Leading climate scientist Benjamin Horton has issued an 8-point manifesto calling for urgent climate action aimed at major Asia metropolioses like Hong Kong where he is based.
Credit: City University of Hong Kong
HONG KONG (7 August 2025) — As Asia grapples with a surge in extreme weather events, from record-breaking rainfall and typhoons to prolonged heatwaves, one of the world’s leading climate scientists is sounding the alarm with an eight-point manifesto aimed at combating climate change now.
This powerful call for transformative climate action is a warning that decisions made over the next three decades will determine long-term livability, economic resilience, and global leadership, according to Benjamin Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK).
Regional extremes
Horton’s eight-point manifesto has been prompted by a series of climate extremes that he has witnessed since moving to Hong Kong in April 2025. In August, the city recorded its highest daily rainfall ever for the month, and Typhoon Wipha in June triggered the city’s highest storm warning, bringing destructive winds and flooding.
Also, the Hong Kong Observatory has documented a steady rise in very hot days and hot nights, while cold days have nearly disappeared. In fact, 2024 was the warmest year in Hong Kong’s records, which stretch back to 1884. “Rainfall is becoming more erratic with longer dry spells followed by torrential downpours. This is not just an environmental crisis; it’s a public health, economic, and infrastructural challenge,” he said.
Across the region, the effects of climate change are playing out in similar ways. Singapore recorded 122 extra dangerous heat days in 2024. South Korea experienced a record number of scorching “tropical nights” in July. Deadly storms have swept across northern and southern China in recent days.
“These are not freak events,” said Horton, former Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore and a Chair Professor in Earth Science at the Asian School of the Environment in Nanyang Technological University, before he moved to CityUHK.
“They are part of a clear and accelerating pattern. Climate change is no longer a future projection. It is unfolding in real time, right here in Hong Kong,” he said.
8-point Hong Kong manifesto for climate change
Based on his experience in Hong Kong, with its dense and ageing urban infrastructure and reliance on imported energy and noting extreme weather across the region in the past few weeks, Horton’s eight-point plan is comprehensive and engaging and could work in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing or Seoul, or any other modern metropolis if the necessary will and leadership exist.
Horton’s eight strategic priorities for Hong Kong over the next 30 years can be modified and applied to any major conurbation in the region:
1. Invest in Climate Science.
Investing in climate science means investing in our future. It helps us understand the changes happening around us, protect our communities, and create smarter solutions for a healthier planet. “The more we know, the better we can act — before it’s too late,” Horton said.
2. Accelerate Renewable Energy
Hong Kong’s renewable energy share is among the lowest in Asia. “We must aggressively pursue offshore wind, solar deployment, and smart grid integration, and leverage our proximity to mainland China’s advanced renewable sector,” Horton said.
3. Transform Urban Mobility
Electrifying vehicles is essential, but not sufficient. “We need a holistic shift, prioritising public transit, walking, and cycling. Hydrogen technologies and expanded charging networks can help decarbonise transport while reducing congestion and improving air quality,” he said.
4. Green and Cool the Built Environment
Given that buildings consume most of Hong Kong’s electricity, Horton emphasised the need for retrofitting, green building codes, and carbon pricing. Passive cooling technologies, including smart architectural design, cooling paints, and breathable clothing, will help reduce heat using natural processes, cutting energy use and keeping people comfortable without relying on air conditioning. “The building sector must be central to our climate strategy. Incentives and regulations can drive innovation and accountability,” he said.
5. Strengthen Climate Resilience
Multi-use coastal resilience is innovation in action, which protects shorelines while creating spaces for nature, recreation, and community. “It’s a smarter way to adapt to climate change, blending engineering with ecosystems to build safer, more vibrant coasts for everyone,” Horton stressed. “Every new infrastructure project must be assessed through a climate risk lens.”
6. Engage the Community
“Climate action must be inclusive,” he said. “We need education, youth leadership, and an empowered civil society. Real resilience starts at the community level. The universities have a responsibility to lead this.”
7. Improve Governance and Transparency
Horton is calling for a whole-of-government approach with clear accountability, regular progress reporting, and open data. “Trust is built through transparency. Cross-departmental coordination and stakeholder consultation should be the norm,” he said.
8. Explore Carbon Capture and the Circular Economy
As emerging technologies mature, Hong Kong should invest in carbon capture and storage (CCS), bioenergy with CCS, and circular economy models. “These innovations can complement our mitigation efforts and position Hong Kong as a regional leader in climate technology,” he said.
Hong Kong as a model for climate change action
With this manifesto, Horton believes Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to take the lead in confronting this grand challenge. With strong institutional ties to mainland China, now a global leader in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and green finance, with a wealth of scientific and financial resources, Hong Kong has the potential to become a model of climate-smart urban development.
Significant steps have been taken. The city’s Climate Action Plan 2030+ and the more comprehensive Climate Action Plan 2050 has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, and HK$240 billion has been allocated over the next two decades to support this transition.
Progress is evident: greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 24% between 2014 and 2022, largely due to cleaner electricity generation from natural gas and increased regional power imports. And a new Office of Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality has been established to coordinate cross-sectoral efforts.
Yet, challenges remain. Emissions from transport and buildings, which account for over 90% of the city’s electricity use, remain stubbornly high and public engagement in climate action is limited. Per capita emissions still exceed those of Tokyo.
“Hong Kong has made progress, but ambition must match urgency,” said Horton. “We are not just fighting to reduce emissions; we are fighting for the city’s future resilience and competitiveness.”
With visionary leadership, regional cooperation, and community engagement, Hong Kong can be more than a city that survives climate change, Horton said. “We have to act with urgency and ambition to shape a sustainable future, not just for Hong Kong, but the entire region and beyond.”
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