What’s new: The Hong Kong government has decided not to accept any new gas or diesel vehicle registrations by 2035 as part of efforts to achieve a net-zero carbon emission target before 2050, the city’s financial secretary Paul Chan announced Wednesday.
Chan said during the release of Hong Kong’s next budget plan for the fiscal year of 2020-21 that the city will boost support for electric vehicles, including expanding charging networks and training technicians.
The city’s Environmental Protection Department also plans to release a comprehensive road-map for the long-term popularization of electric vehicles in the region.
Why it matters: In November, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam promised to achieve net-zero carbon emission before 2050. The automobile sector is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
The Hong Kong government has launched multiple initiatives to incentivize the expansion of electric vehicles including subsidizing residents to install charging infrastructure in private parking lots, as well as increasing the use of electric vehicles for public transportation.
Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Marcus Ryder (marcusryder@caixin.com)
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