As Asia increasingly faces the harsh realities of climate change, the region’s major metropolitan centers stand on the front lines of an unfolding environmental crisis. Recent extreme weather events, including unprecedented rainfall, intense typhoons, and lethal heatwaves have underscored the urgent need for actionable and transformative measures. Dr. Benjamin Horton, a preeminent climate scientist and newly appointed Dean at the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong, has issued a comprehensive manifesto aimed at driving decisive climate action across Asia’s urban landscapes. His manifesto is framed by both empirical observation of accelerating environmental disruptions and the imperative for sustainable resilience in some of the world’s most densely populated and energy-dependent cities.
In the midst of this increasingly volatile climate, Hong Kong exemplifies the tangible impacts of global warming. Since Dr. Horton’s relocation to the city in early 2025, Hong Kong has witnessed several alarming milestones. The region endured its highest recorded daily rainfall for August, while Typhoon Wipha triggered the city’s most severe storm warnings in recent memory, causing extensive damage through flooding and destructive winds. These phenomena are symptomatic of a broader shift characterized by greater variability in precipitation patterns, combining extended dry spells with sudden, intense downpours that challenge urban infrastructure and emergency preparedness alike.
Compounding these climatic anomalies are trends documented by the Hong Kong Observatory, including a prolonged rise in extreme heat days coupled with the near disappearance of historically cold days. The year 2024 marked the warmest year ever recorded in Hong Kong, a data point reflective of a larger pattern that reverberates across the region. Nations such as Singapore and South Korea are recording significant increases in dangerous heat exposure, including a marked increase in tropical nights where temperatures fail to drop sufficiently overnight, thereby exacerbating health risks and straining energy resources due to elevated cooling demands.
Dr. Horton emphasizes that these changes are not isolated or unpredictable ‘freak’ events but rather constituents of a clear, well-established trajectory of climate disruption. This reality has arrived rapidly, transforming what was once considered future risk into present, tangible challenges. Hong Kong’s position as a major international hub with an ageing infrastructure and significant reliance on energy imports places it at increased vulnerability. Yet, it is precisely this combination of risk and capacity that underpins Dr. Horton’s urgent call for comprehensive, science-based climate leadership tailored to urban settings.
Given these pressing concerns, Dr. Horton’s manifesto lays out eight transformative priorities tailored initially to Hong Kong’s unique circumstances but adaptable across Asia’s megacities. At its core is an urgent call to significantly enhance investment in climate science—increasing our ability to comprehensively monitor, model, and predict climatic trends at actionable scales. The manifesto advocates leveraging advanced climate data analytics and integrating them into city planning and disaster mitigation strategies, creating a foundation for evidence-based policy decisions.
A keystone of this strategy involves accelerating the deployment of renewable energy. Hong Kong’s renewable energy adoption lags behind much of Asia, constraining its ability to decarbonize rapidly. Dr. Horton urges aggressive expansion in offshore wind farms, distributed solar power installations, and the incorporation of smart grid technologies. Importantly, the manifesto highlights the strategic advantage of Hong Kong’s proximity to mainland China’s robust renewable energy sector, which can serve as a vital partner in building a resilient, low-carbon energy economy.
Urban transportation represents another critical front in the climate battle. The manifesto calls for a systemic transformation beyond merely electrifying vehicles. It advocates for a holistic shift prioritizing public transportation, walking, and cycling, coupled with the development of hydrogen fuel technologies and expansively networked charging infrastructure. Integrating these measures addresses not only carbon emissions but also tackles urban congestion and air quality issues, essential for public health and environmental sustainability.
Recognizing the outsized energy consumption by buildings in Hong Kong, the manifesto calls for fundamental changes in urban design and construction practices. This includes retrofitting existing buildings to meet stringent green building codes, employing carbon pricing to incentivize emission reductions, and adopting passive cooling technologies. Innovative architectural designs, reflective surface coatings, and breathable materials can reduce dependence on energy-intensive air conditioning, offering a way to mitigate heat stress using natural processes and improve occupant comfort sustainably.
Climate resilience emerges as a vital theme, particularly regarding coastal risk management. Dr. Horton envisions multi-use coastal infrastructure that marries engineering solutions with ecological principles—creating coastlines that protect urban populations, preserve natural habitats, and provide community recreational spaces. Such integrative approaches can lessen the impact of storm surges and sea-level rise, which are significant threats in densely populated coastal cities like Hong Kong. The manifesto strongly advocates that climate risk assessments become a mandatory component in all new infrastructure developments.
The manifesto also underscores the indispensable role of community engagement and education in climate action. Genuine resilience is grounded in inclusive participation, particularly the empowerment of youth and civil society. Universities and research institutions hold responsibility not only for knowledge generation but also for fostering climate literacy and leadership within the civic sphere, building a culture of proactive adaptation and mitigation at the grassroots level.
Good governance and transparency underpin effective climate action, according to Dr. Horton. The manifesto calls for integrated ‘whole-of-government’ approaches, ensuring clear lines of accountability, systematic reporting on progress, and open access to data. Such transparent governance frameworks build trust among stakeholders and the public, facilitating cross-departmental coordination and inclusive consultation processes fundamental to advancing ambitious climate policies.
Finally, the manifesto highlights emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) alongside circular economy principles as crucial supplements to Hong Kong’s mitigation repertoire. Investment in bioenergy with CCS and resource-efficient industrial models can provide complementary pathways to reduce net emissions and create green economic opportunities. These innovations promise to position Hong Kong as a forward-thinking leader in regional and global climate technology development.
Hong Kong’s current policy trajectory demonstrates measurable progress, with its Climate Action Plans 2030+ and 2050 setting carbon neutrality as a central objective. Over the next two decades, substantial financial commitments—exceeding HK$240 billion—have been allocated to facilitate this transition. Greenhouse gas emissions have already fallen by nearly a quarter between 2014 and 2022, driven primarily by a shift to cleaner electricity generation sources and increased reliance on regional power imports.
However, significant challenges remain, particularly in sectors like transportation and building energy consumption which continue to exhibit stubbornly high emissions profiles. Public engagement in climate initiatives also needs broad enhancement to sustain momentum and ensure social equity in the transition. Per capita emissions in Hong Kong still surpass those of peer cities such as Tokyo, underscoring the scale of the challenge ahead.
“The window to act is closing fast,” Dr. Horton emphasizes. For Hong Kong, and by extension the broader region, the stakes involve not just environmental sustainability but also long-term economic competitiveness and urban livability. The manifesto’s comprehensive approach emphasizes that ambition must match the urgency of the crisis, requiring transformational leadership, broad regional cooperation, and empowered community participation.
If Hong Kong can leverage its unique institutional ties with mainland China’s burgeoning green economy—already a global leader in renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and green finance—it has the potential to serve as a pioneering model of climate-smart urbanization. Through visionary governance and integrated policy implementation, Hong Kong could demonstrate how one of the world’s great cities confronts climate change with strategic foresight and resilient innovation.
In sum, Dr. Horton’s manifesto is not merely a call to action but a roadmap for how dynamic urban centers can respond to the accelerating challenges of climate change. It reflects a deep understanding of the technical, social, and governance dimensions of the crisis, outlining a balanced path that addresses immediate risks and creates a template for sustainable future development—both regionally and globally.
Subject of Research: Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in urban Asia, with a focus on Hong Kong.
Article Title: Leading Climate Scientist Unveils 8-Point Manifesto for Urgent Climate Action in Asia’s Megacities
News Publication Date: 7 August 2025
Web References: https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/e14598a5-0c6e-48cc-ac69-3ba255995cb1/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: City University of Hong Kong
Keywords: Climate change adaptation, Climate change effects, Climate policy, Environmental issues, Environmental impact assessments
