The Workshop on Climate Projections and the Economics of Climate Change, supported by the Hong Kong Observatory, was successfully held on 10 August 2009 in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong workshop formed part of a roadshow which took place across south China, in Guangzhou, Haikou and Nanning. The purpose of the workshop was to foster experience sharing between the UK and local climate change experts and stakeholders; to demonstrate the importance of the economics of climate change; and to engage relevant stakeholders who may be interested in collaboration on climate change research, impact modeling and climate change economics in south China and Hong Kong. The workshop was well attended by a range of stakeholders including experts in meteorology and economics and representatives from the HKSAR Government, policy think tanks, non-governmental organizations, private sector and academia. During the workshop, participants were highly engaged and actively participated in the discussion sessions.

The Workshop was kicked-off by Iain Lindsay, Acting Head of Mission at the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, who delivered a welcoming speech highlighting the importance the UK Government attaches to tackling climate change. Giving full support to the Workshop, Mr. Leung Wing Mo, Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, delivered a speech which outlined the commitments and work of the Hong Kong Observatory in climate projections and public education.

The Workshop was essentially divided into two sessions: climate projections and the economics of climate change.  Our first speaker, Dr. Peili Wu from the Hadley Centre of the UK Meteorological Office, presented an overview of the UK modelling process and the key uncertainties involved. He also presented a summary of the UK Climate Projections 09(UKCP09). Mr. Edwin Ginn, Senior Scientific Officer of the Hong Kong Observatory, shared with us the evidence of climate change in Hong Kong and concluded that urbanization adds extra burden to the global warming phenomenon.  

The second half of the workshop on economics was presented by Dimitri Zenghelis, Senior Visiting Fellow of the London School of Economics and Dr. Juzhong Zhuang, Assistant Chief Economist of the Economics and Research Development of Asia Development Bank.  As a former Stern Team member, Mr. Zenghelis presented the key findings of the Stern Review Key Elements of the Global Deal and analyzed the costs and benefits of acting early.  He emphasized that the right policy framework, founded on a global commitment, can mean a future with dynamic ‘green’ markets, entrepreneurship and new technologies. Taking forward from the Stern’s Global Deal, the Asia Development Bank recently conducted the Regional Review on the Economics of Climate Change in South East Asia.  Dr. Zhuang presented the key findings of the Regional Review which highlighted the urgent need to further strengthen adaptation capacity in Southeast Asia, where poverty means people are especially vulnerable. One of the key conclusions was that implementing effective adaptation and mitigation measures in Southeast Asia makes economic sense and international funding and technology transfer are essential for the success of adaptation and mitigation in the region.

Please follow the links below to download speakers’ presentation files:

The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review [PDF, 7MB, new window] by Dr. Juzhong Zhuang, Assistant Chief Economist, Economics and Research Development, Asia Development Bank

Climate Change and Projections in Hong Kong [PDF, 4.9MB, new window] Mr. Edwin Ginn, Senior Scientific Officer , Hong Kong Observatory

The Stern Review Key Elements of a Global Deal [PDF, 1.2MB, new window] by Dr. Dimitri Zenghelis, Senior Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics

Reference documents:

Key Elements of a Global Deal on Climate Change, LSE, 2008

The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review, Asia Development Bank, 2008

UK Climate Projections 

An Outline of the Case for a 'Green' Stimulus, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, 2009