Toward a more open and collaborative climate change policy framework in Hong Kong and Macao within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Abstract

The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao enjoy a high degree of autonomy from the national policy system in devising their local policies, including measures related to climate change. Hong Kong and Macao each have their own climate change policies, some aspects of which are more advanced than policies in mainland China. While their high degree of policy autonomy has advantages, this has also isolated them from China's larger environmental management and practices that continue to advance at scale. This paper reviews the climate change policies of the two special administrative regions and analyzes their strengths and innovations, particularly in adaptation. It also identifies areas where there could be closer engagement, collaboration, and capacity-building with the mainland China, which has the potential for greater positive impacts, especially on a regional basis.

Keywords

• Climate change policy
• High degree of autonomy
• Hong Kong
• Macao
• Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
• Collaboration