Cities need to become sustainable societies to ensure a reasonable quality of life for the inhabitants. The results of unsustainable development; uncontrolled development on land better suited for other uses, inefficient, fossil fuel based transportation, environmental degradation and poor economic performance are well documented.

One result of an unsustainable urban transportation system is air pollution. Public transport is a necessity and a major part of urban life. In Hong Kong the combination of the semi-tropical climate and topography encourage the use of powered transport. An increasing population means that urban journeys will increase and if we continue to rely on traditional transport and build more roads to accommodate a greater number of vehicles, the air quality will only continue to lessen.

In Hong Kong the daily pollution levels are more than just an unpleasant side effect of development and progress, they are causing increasing public concern and raising questions from the media. Hong Kong needs to acknowledge the links between the environment, the economy and social well-being If it wants to retain its status as a key tourist destination and attract overseas investment. Continuing pollution would cause significant disruption to the tourism industry, an important sector which makes a significant contribution to the economy. Hong Kong needs a reputation of a clean, non-polluted environment to be able to prosper.

The recent report ‘Heading towards Sustainability? Indicators of Environmental Sustainability for Hong Kong’, produced by the Centre of Urban Planning and Environment Management on behalf of the Environment and Conservation Fund, indicates that Hong Kong is not following a path of sustainable development. This report defines seven initial threshold indicators for environmental sustainability of land, marine water and air within Hong Kong. The identification of these indicators means that more accurate projections can be made on the results of future development.

Foreseeable pressures such as an increasing population and the need to maintain environmental quality are addressed in the report and alternatives to the present transport system and power generation analysed. The report emphasizes the need for a complete Government rethink for environmental protection.

The conclusion of the report is not optimistic; Hong Kong, despite the present efforts, continues to follow an unsustainable path and is moving further away from sustainability. Long term affluence, lack of sustainable planning and the economic success of nearby parts of China all contribute to a rise in pollutant emissions within the Pearl River Delta.

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