The European Union and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region share the same vision for driving the green transition through strengthening partnerships, mobilizing investment, and supporting resilient, clean technology value chains, panelists said at the Greenway 2026: Driving Sustainability Through Innovation forum on Tuesday.
Co-organized by the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the event was the fifth edition of EU’s flagship sustainability forum to examine how innovation and technology can be leveraged to decarbonize economies quickly. The forum attracted more than 300 participants, including government officials, business leaders and civil society organization leaders.
“EU companies are active here in sustainable construction, waste management, water desalination and aircraft recycling so that they can bring expertise, investment and innovative solutions to support Hong Kong’s green and digital transformation,” Harvey Rouse, head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, said at the opening address of the forum.
This is particularly relevant as Hong Kong develops the Northern Metropolis, with European companies able to contribute world-class expertise in sustainable urban planning, smart infrastructure, energy efficiency, mobility and digital technologies, Rouse added.
In Rouse’s view, the EU and the Hong Kong SAR can collaborate in three sustainability initiatives to promote the green transformation.
In green finance collaboration, both sides are looking at starting a dialogue on financial services soon to enhance cooperation in green finance. EU and European companies can contribute to Hong Kong’s innovation ambitions and decarbonization goals. And both parties can also deepen cooperation to support the city’s aspiration as a center for sustainable aviation and green shipping. Sustainable aviation fuel production in Europe has expanded to around 1.4 million tons, which is well above the 2 percent target for 2025.
Since 1990, the EU has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent while growing its economy by 71 percent. Today, the EU accounts for around 6 percent of global emissions.
The Hong Kong SAR aims to halve its carbon emissions before 2035 from the 2005 level, with a view to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Hong Kong’s total greenhouse gas emissions have already fallen 27 percent from the 2014 peak level,” Paul Lam Ting-kwok, acting chief executive, said in the opening session of the forum.
Lam also highlighted some of Hong Kong’s recent progress in sustainability initiatives at the forum.
Hong Kong-based enterprise EcoCeres in early May signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dongguan government to build sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plants in Dongguan. EcoCeres uses proprietary integrated technology to convert waste cooking oil into internationally certified SAF, in a bid to enhance SAF production and drive the development of the regional circular economy.
In May, a government interdepartmental working group agreed in principle to 38 hydrogen energy trail projects, covering transport, infrastructure, and hydrogen gensets at construction sites.
The government is currently drafting the relevant subsidiary legislation of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, with the aim of providing a clear legal framework and a stable regulatory environment for the hydrogen energy industry, and is encouraging local and international investors to develop hydrogen-related businesses in Hong Kong with greater confidence.
“Hong Kong’s first five-year plan public consultation document, which was released last week, articulated three directions for developing a green economy in Hong Kong,” Lam said.
The document recommended supporting pilot green technologies and solutions; promoting research and development and the production and application of sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen fuel; and facilitating the expansion and strengthening of promising green technology enterprises.
At the forum, the EU made 29 business recommendations to the Hong Kong SAR on how to accelerate the green and innovative transformation of the EU’s and Hong Kong’s economies.
These recommendations cover the five main areas — green city and infrastructure, green finance, green mobility and a sustainable supply chain, green technology and innovation, as well as education, public awareness and talent.
“We deeply value the European Union’s pioneering contributions to green technologies and to the development of robust international standards. And I must thank our European partners again for bringing to Hong Kong their vision, their world-leading techs, and their environmentally friendly culture,” Michael Wong Wai-lun, acting financial secretary, said at the forum’s closing ceremony.
