Cycle/walk/work from home more often
Use public transport instead of driving for long journey
- Roadside pollution is mainly generated from vehicles. Road transport was a major emission source of nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide (CO), accounting for 18%, 21% and 50% of the total emissions in 2018, respectively.
- Reduce the number of cars on the road can lower the possibility of traffic jam and the emissions from vehicles therefore improve roadside air quality.
- Hong Kong’s annual average concentration of roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 2020 was 70 µg/m3, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectives (AQO) limit (40 µg/m3) by 75%.
Switch to electric cars
- Electric cars have no tailpipe emission so they can help improving roadside air quality.
Planting trees
- Trees can shade buildings and lower the temperatures therefore the need for air conditioning and the emissions of electricity generation can be reduced
- Electricity sector had been a major contributor to sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and respirable suspended particulates (RSP) emissions in Hong Kong. In 2018, the emissions of SO2, NOx and RSP accounted for 47%, 28% and 16% of the total emissions,respectively.
Buy local food and products instead of imported goods
- Reduce the emissions from vehicles, ships and planes
- Marine emissions is the major emission source in Hong Kong. In 2018, the emissions of SO2, NOx, RSP and fine suspended particulates (FSP) from marine vessels accounted for 49%, 37%, 34% and 41% of the total emissions, respectively.