Enabling Low Carbon Living in Shek Kip Mei (ENLOCALI)

Transcription

1 Enabling Low Carbon Living in Shek Kip Mei (ENLOCALI) Idea Incubator Project Dissemination Workshop 17th April 2013

2 In brief Who are we? What did we set to achieve? Why low carbon living? Why Shek Kip Mei? What did we set out to investigate? Navigating through ENLOCALI What have we achieved? Enablers Challenges, Limitations & Future Acknowledgements & References Idea

3 Who are we? Faculty from Department of Public & Social Administration and School of Energy & Environment Maria Francesch-Huidobro (SA) Arthur Cheung (SA) Robert Gibson (SEE) Sara Fuller (from Durham, UK on to Macquarie, Australia) 17 past and current students of Environmental Policy major

4 What did we set out to achieve? Pursue a discovery-led, innovative project of local interest and impact in the field of environmental public policy and management Demonstrate an understanding of the existing approaches, gaps in knowledge and implementation of low carbon living in localities Raise social awareness of City U faculty and students and contribute to the quality of life of deprived communities through knowledge dissemination Analyze basic research data in a systematic way Exhibit ability to set ideas in a wider context, to sustain them long-term, and to reach some conclusions

5 Why low carbon living? Ecological footprint, humanity s demand on regenerative capacity of the planet s biosphere. Hong Kong has the 45 th largest Ecological Footprint per person or 4.0 global hectares average (gha) but an available capacity of 0.04 gha due to its low domestic ecological resources (HK Ecological Footprint report, WWF 2010) This is more than double the 1.8 gha of bio-capacity (area to produce renewable resources and absorb CO2 per person globally) Hong Kong needs to reduce indiscriminate use of resources and curb greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) Hong Kong can develop low carbon living by integrating sectors of the economy around technologies and practices that produce energy and materials with less fossil fuels (thus, emit fewer GHGs)

6 Why Shek Kip Mei? City University s neighbour City U wants to walk the sustainability talk Public housing where City U staff and students live, study, play Many residential, public and civic buildings - markets, shops, schools, restaurantsare frequented by CityU staff and students Existing low carbon living initiatives we can build on

7 What did we set out to investigate? Electricity and water consumption: Quantitative measures of water and electricity consumption Qualitative measures of water and electricity use and practices Quality of living environment: Quantitative measures of indoor air quality Qualitative measures of habitat resources (access to greenery: trees, University trail, parks, green roofs, etc) Qualitative measures of environmental awareness

8 May 2013 Wrap Up Final Report to Provost Office & SA Jan-Mar 2013 Analysis and evaluation of field data Sept-Nov 2012 Fieldwork in 24 flats and 10 shops Collection and Collation of Field data Set up Website Getting some residents and/or commercial tenants of particular housing estates to use the website July 2012 First Progress Report to Provost Office & SA 21 Nov 2011 Approval of project Timeline of ENLOCALI May 2013 Jan-Mar 2013 Sept-Nov 2012 July 2012 Nov 2011 Apr 2013 Dec 2012 Jan-Jun 2012 Jan 2012 Apr 2013 Dissemination Workshop: Launching of Residents Brief and of Project Findings Preparation academic paper Dec 2012 Students' Assessment and Reporting Stakeholders' Workshop Jan-Jun 2012 Recruit and Brief Student Leaders Contact Sham Shui Po District Councilors to introduce project and seek their support Purchase of toolkit (power meters, etc) 4 Pilot tests and analysis the findings Compilation of Discoverers Brief Recruit Postdoctoral Fellow from Durham University (UK) Participation in Teaching and Learning Fair April Jan 2012 Commencement date

9 What have we achieved? ENLOCALI Carbon Cutting Action Plan : Briefs.a vademecum Discoverers Brief: incubators guide Residents Brief: enabling innovation To be introduced and launched today

10 What have we achieved? Toolkit (to be kept at City U Library) Power meters, light, temperature and humidity meters, indoor air quality probe, samples of questionnaires, observations lists, etc Website An Interactive Flash Application Calculator (to be displayed at the workshop and launched in May 2013) Carbon Reduction Implementation Assessment Strategy (CRIAS) funded by AECOM

11 What have we achieved? A Draft Journal Article: The relationship between low carbon living and climate justice (presented by Sara Fuller at American Association of Geographers conference, Los Angeles, April 2013) Abstract: As part of broader conceptualisations of climate justice, the issue of responsibility for reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption is critical. While debates about the distribution of such responsibilities are most often seen at the international level and between nation states, the issue becomes more complex when considered at other sites and scales. In such circumstances questions arise not only about the roles of different actors in reducing energy consumption and how such responsibility might be distributed, for example within a city or community, but also around procedural dimensions such as the duty of particular actors to participate in decision making. One mechanism through which responsibility is often articulated is that of carbon footprints - at city, community or individual level. Such footprints highlight specific sectors through which forms of lower carbon living can be enabled. In Hong Kong, energy efficiency has been emphasised as a key mechanism for reducing the city's carbon footprint. Drawing on empirical work with a specific neighbourhood, Shek Kip Mei, this paper explores how the creation of carbon footprints assigns responsibility for improving energy efficiency to three interrelated actors: the city, the community and the university. It highlights the opportunities and challenges arising from placing responsibility on these actors and explores whether this focus serves to downplay the responsibility of others, such as industry. It concludes with a reflection on how understanding such differentiated responsibilities might facilitate a more 'just' response towards the challenges of reducing energy consumption in the face of climate change.

12 Challenges & Limitations Sample size: 24 flats & 10 shops of 9200 SKM public rental flats (Housing Authority 2012) Time: fieldwork during course hours (SA3239 Sustainable Development: Theory, Research & Theory) Crossing language, cultural and social barriers: a team s ability to collaborate and be creative!

13 Future Next Steps: possibility of bringing this forward through UGC Communities of Practice initiative (Sustainability team) under Prof Andrew Leung s leadership Further investigations by ENP major students final year projects Contributions to HKSARG Green Campaign Residents Brief sent to all 18 Hong Kong districts

14 Enablers ENLOCALI driving forces: Commitment from Environmental Policy faculty and students Mr Tsung Po-shan, District Councillor Support from GTA-ITT scheme that allowed a postdoctoral fellow from Durham University to join the project High level of support from Mr Tsung Po- Shan, SSP District Councillor and from Shek Kip Mei residents High level of support from Hong Kong s low carbon stakeholders (public, private and people sectors) Team s drive to work across disciplines (political science, policy, geography, environmental studies, creative media), and across generations, languages, and cultures

15 Acknowledgements Office of the Provost for Idea Incubator Scheme & International Transition Team (ITT)-Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Schemes Governance in Asia Research Centre (GARC) District Councillor Mr Tsung Po-Shan, his office colleagues and Shek Kip Mei Residents Guest Speakers Ms Brenda Fung of WGO, and Claire Gunning of BASF EDGE, CPRO and City U Reprographics Graphic designers: Waiman Lau and Eric Wong Support Team: Iva, Rice, Kiko, Isaac, Lindsay

16 Programme Welcome (Dr Francesch) Discover & City University (Prof Wagner) Overview ENLOCALI (Dr Francesch) Project Findings & Launch Residents Brief (Dr Fuller & Students) Implementing Low Carbon Living in Hong Kong (Ms Fung, WGO) Coffee Discussion: Opportunities for low Carbon Living in Asia (Mr Gibson, Ms Gunning (BASF) & Ms Fung (WGO) Wrap Up. Certificates of Appreciation (Dr Cheung) Buffet Dinner (All are welcome!)

17 Project Team Students 17 past and current students from Environmental Policy Major: Clement Chan Wing Wing Chan Winnie Chan Fat Cheng Janet Cheung Candy Choi Crystal Chung (ENLOCALI Leader) Ric Chung (ENLOCALI Pioneer) Alice Lam Noddy Lam Tommy Lam (ENLOCALI Pioneer) Ka Chun Lau Edith Law Ryan Lo Calvie Man Ashley Tsang Tom Wong Faculty Principal Investigator Maria Francesch-Huidobro, Department of Public and Social Administration, City University of HK Co Investigator Arthur Cheung, Department of Public and Social Administration, City University of HK Co Investigator J. Robert Gibson, School of Energy and Environment, City University of HK Postdoctoral Fellow Sara Fuller, Durham University & Macquarie University

18 References ASU Campus Metabolism. Available from CLP Green Home Starter Guide. Available from EMSD Energy Saving tips. Available from EMSD Renewable Energy. Available from EPD Saving Energy In Your Home. Available from EPD Indoor Air Quality Information Centre. Available from Hong Kong Housing Authority Green Living- Energy Efficiency. Available from Hong Kong Housing Authority Green Living- Saving Water. Available from Micro Carbon Operation. Available from WWF (2010) Hong Kong Ecological Footprint Report 2010: Paths to a Sustainable Future. Available from: WWF Low Carbon Living Tips. Available from WWF Carbon Calculator. Available from