Despite improvement in recent years, Hong Kong ambient and roadside air quality is still worse than other major cities. In 2022, Hong Kong only achieved 75% of our Air Quality Objectives (“AQO”), leaving significant gaps in meeting the target Nitrogen Dioxide 6 and Ozone 7 levels. The level of Nitrogen Dioxide at the roadside is 530% above World Health Organization’s most stringent standard 8. For a city like Hong Kong with more ageing population, it requires continuous control of air pollution or the public health gain due to past effort will soon be offset by the demographic shift.
Besides, the current approach to managing indoor air quality (“IAQ”) in Hong Kong is primarily voluntary, which relies heavily on individuals and sectoral to take necessary actions. However, with limited awareness, understanding and tangible incentives, many sectors and individuals lack the drive to improve IAQ. As a result, most places in Hong Kong continue to have insufficient levels of IAQ management.
CAN will therefore push for policy reforms for improvement of ambient and roadside air quality as well as IAQ.
