The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
The 2020 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) and Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) Presentation Ceremony was held today (October 28) in a hybrid mode, on-site at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and online, to commend winners for their green management practices and their contributions to environmental protection. Winners of the 2020 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) and corporations certified as Hong Kong Green Organisations (HKGOs) in 2020 were also commended at the presentation ceremony.
The number of entries competing for the HKAEE reached a record high of 2 785, more than a sevenfold increase compared with the figure for 2008, when the awards were launched. A total of 47 organisations won gold, silver or bronze awards this year, and 159 received certificates of merit. There were 86 entries in the 2020 HKGIA, a figure five times higher than that of 2011, when the HKGIA was established. To commend company management and employees for their dedication in enhancing the environmental performance of their respective companies and the community, five awardees were selected under the Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme. In addition, 38 organisations were honoured as Outstanding Promotional Partners.
The ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Mr Douglas Woo; the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Mr Simon Wong; and the Chairman of the Awards Committee on the HKAEE, Dr Conrad Wong.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, also congratulated the winning companies and organisations in a video. She said she appreciated their dedication in promoting environmental protection despite the economic downturn under the pandemic. She also called on more companies and organisations to participate in the HKAEE and the HKGOC and work with the Government to promote low-carbon transformation practices in all sectors while heading towards carbon neutrality.
At the presentation ceremony, Mr Wong Kam-sing said that combating climate change and striving towards carbon neutrality prevail as a trend now. The Government has just announced Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, covering four major decarbonisation strategies, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport, and waste reduction, which need community participation and green innovation.
Mr Wong Kam-sing said, "The extreme climate in recent years reflects the pressing need to combat global warming. Hong Kong will proactively complement the development of the country while contributing to its global carbon reduction goal." Noting that he recognised the contributions by the organisations in environmental protection, Mr Wong added that collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community is the key in pursuit of carbon neutrality.
The HKAEE commends organisations that have demonstrated outstanding environmental performance in 15 different sectors. The three judging criteria are green leadership, programme and performance, and partner synergy. The final adjudicating panels comprise the Chairman and members of the ECC, as well as representatives from major chambers of different sectors in Hong Kong.
The HKGIA aims to encourage local organisations to tackle environmental challenges using new ideas that will benefit the environment. The three assessment criteria are level of innovation, environmental achievements, and practicability and contribution to society.
The HKGOC aims to benchmark the green performance of organisations and encourages them to sustain their environmental initiatives in waste reduction, energy saving, carbon reduction and indoor air quality improvement. Participating organisations are commended as HKGOs if they can demonstrate certain environmental achievements such as possessing certificates under the HKGOC, winning HKAEE awards, signing any of the environment-related charters launched or supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government or possessing a valid ISO 14001 certificate. To date, over 2 800 organisations in 15 different industry sectors have attained HKGO status, among which 933 organisations gained the status in 2020.
The HKAEE and the HKGOC are jointly organised by the ECC, the Environmental Protection Department, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. The HKAEE and the HKGOC are sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund.
The 2021 HKAEE, the HKGIA and the Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme are now open for applications while the HKGOC accepts applications all year round. The ECC will hold a number of online seminars in November and December for winning organisations to talk about their experience of going green. Organisations wishing to learn more about the schemes may obtain details through the seminars. For more information, please visit the website at www.hkaee.gov.hk or call the hotline 2788 5903.
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