Encompass HK climate change & the pandemic

1. Climate Change
& The Pandemic

3. Source. Survey on People’s Attitudes towards Climate Change. HKPORI (2020)

7. 7
CEO and Founder, Encompass HK
Former Regional Director, Earthwatch Institute
Board Director, AIDS Concern
PADI and NAUI Scuba Diving Instructor

10. SDGs card game
From climate anxiety to climate
action

13. What to expect today ?
• What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
• What exactly is climate change?
• What does the pandemic teach us about the climate change?
• What actions we can do individually to combat climate change?
• Q&A
Please leave your Q&A in CHAT or ask in the end
Presentation available for download after the talk

14. 17 Sustainable
Development Goals
Set in 2015 by
the United Nations
169 specific
targets
To be achieved
by 2030
THE GLOBAL GOALS
For Sustainable Development
UNIVERSAL TRANSFORMATIVE INTEGRATED

16. Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet
Interaction
About Encompass HK
A wonderful serenity has taken
possession of my entire soul, like these
sweet mornings of serenity has taken
possession of my entire
Established in December 2018
Structured as a social enterprise,
donating 60% of all net profits to NGO
and community partners
Created and planned over 50
workshops and experiential learning
programs
Encompass HK’s mission is to assist
and inspire institutions in the
achievement of the UN's SDGs

17. SDG 13 Climate Action

18. CAN YOU
GO FAR FOR
CLIMATE?
Future generations will
most likely look back at
this moment as the single
most significant turning
point for action.
So take a deep breath
and decide that
collectively, we can do
this. And you will play
your part.
Christiana Figueres
Former UN Climate Chief who oversaw the historic Paris
Climate Agreement and now is co-founder of Global
Optimism.

19. What is
climate?
• Weather = short time
• Climate = average
weather over long time
• Highly complex system

20. What cause climate to change?
§ NOT only human activities à Greenhouse gas
§ Changes in atmosphere
§ Natural processes: Volcanoes, tectonic plate movement,
changes in the sun

21. Climate Change = Global warming?
Climate Change Global Warming
A broader term refers to long-term
changes in climate, including average
temperature and precipitation and wind
patterns
The increase of the Earth’s average
surface temperature due to a build-up of
greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
Includes the “side effects’ of warming –
melting glaciers, heavier rainstorms, more
frequent drought
Refer to rising surface temperature only

22. Climate Change Quiz –
Please go to Kahoot.it. PIN: 549847

23. Climate Change = Global warming?

25. Climate Change = Global warming?
Human impacts on Carbon Cycle

26. 99% nitrogen and oxygen, with important trace greenhouse gases:
• Water vapor (10- 50,000ppm)
• Carbon dioxide (400 ppm)
• Methane (1.8 ppm)
• Nitrous oxide (330ppb)
The Science behind Climate Change :
Atmospheric Gases
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s
surface temperature would be below
freezing (-17oC).

27. Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's
atmosphere trap the Sun's heat.

28. Climate Change = Global warming?
Global warming is affecting extreme events

29. Climate Change = Global warming?

31. Climate Change = Global warming?
A crucial role played by the
oceans involves the mixing
of surface heat into the
deep layers
à redistribution of heat
around the globe.
Oceans are Warming
The vast majority of Earth’s heat
is stored in the oceans.
The heat in the world’s
oceans reached a new
record level in 2019 L

32. Climate Change = Global warming?
Sea Levels Are Rising
Caused by
- Warm, melting waters
- Melting ice sheets
(Antarctica, Greenland)
- Melting glaciers

34. Climate Change = Global warming?

35. Climate Change: the future?

37. What to Expect in Climate Changed Hong Kong

38. Longer HOT summer No Winter
2019
2020

39. Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet
A hotter, wetter climate, with heavier
rainfall interspersed by longer dry periods
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of serenity has taken taken possession
of my entire soul, like these like these sweet mornings sweet mornings

40. Implications of temperature change for wildlife
Green Turtles at Sham Wan

41. Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet
Increasing rainfall variability
(causing water scarcity and drought)

42. Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet
Rising sea levels in Hong Kong
A study by Climate Central estimates that 1.3 million Hongkongers could be hit by flooding
every year in areas such as Tai Po, Sha Tin, and at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Sea level in HK:
1954-2019 (HKO)

43. Survey on HK People’s Attitudes towards Climate Change
Source: Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (January 2020)
§ 84% think the impact of climate change on future generations is going to be
significant.
§ 84% claimed they had very often practised energy saving to reduce carbon
emission in the past year, usually by using more public transport.
§ Most people think the government has the main responsibility for tackling
climate change. And over half did not think it was doing enough to reduce
carbon emissions.
§ Most people think climate change mitigation and adaptation measures should
be funded by government reserves and “polluter pays” tax income. More than
70 % are willing to pay more for electricity to fund an increase in renewable
energy use. On average, they are willing to pay about 20% more.

44. What the coronavirus means for climate change

45. COVID-19 Climate Change
Death Rate
(2020)
14 per 100,000
people
Death Rate
(2060)
14 per 100,000 people
Death Rate
(2100)
High emission scenario:
73 extra deaths per 100,000
people)
Low emission scenario:
10 per 100,000

46. https://www.hypergiant.com/covid/

47. “A crisis like this brings to people's
minds that maybe the risk we’ve
been talking about with climate
change is not so far fetched”
Joaquim Vieira Ferreira Levy

48. Source: Venngage

52. Why Covid-19 is more proof that the world must focus on climate change

53. Pandemic &
Climate
Change
• We ignored the warnings
• We are unprepared
• Speed of transmission and
impact on our economies of
the pandemic in our
globalised, hyper-connected
world

54. Pandemic & Climate Change
• Response: The world is responding to the virus because its
effects are so shocking. Curing the climate is more difficult.
• Private sector: Business is responding dramatically to COVID-
19. We need a similar response to our climate challenges.
• Economic impact: The damage from the virus is clear when you
check your investment accounts. But the cost of climate change
can be calculated, too.
• The careless: We have seen the pictures of people who refuse
to maintain a safe distance during this COVID crisis. The world
is filled with people who refuse to reckon with climate change.

55. Spread of COVID-19 likely constrained by climate
Source: Arauji M and Naimi B (2020)
Temperate warm and cold
climates are more favorable to
spread of the virus.
Arid and tropical climates are less
favorable.

56. Zoonotic disease
¾ of new and emerging disease infecting
humans originated in animals

57. Permafrost and Bacteria
Even if humanity can cap the world’s temperature rise at 2oC by the end of the century, 25%
of the existing permafrost would still melt.

58. Lessons from the
pandemic
§ The rapid response to COVID-19 around the world
illustrates the remarkable capacity of society to put
the emergency brake on "business-as-usual" simply
by acting in the moment.
§ We need stricter rules, and more radical change on
climate change
§ Pursuing the UN SDGS, carbon offsetting schemes,
incremental eco-efficiencies, vegan diets for the
wealthy and other similar tactics will not
stop climate change because they do not discourage
mass industrial production and consumption but
simply shift their emphasis.

59. Source: Klenert et al. (2020).

62. Challenges
Climate Deniers
Lack of Education
Lack of Financial Budget for
environmental action
Not a priority
In the budget of 2018-2019, only
4.8% was allocated to Environment
and Food

63. Source: Kate Raworth & Christian Guthier
The Lancet Planetary Health
Meet the doughnut model

65. Priority of SDGs in Hong Kong
According to average score (on a 1-10 scale)
The SDG that Hong Kong public
care the least is SDG12:
Responsible Consumption &
Production (6.8)
8.81
8.71
8.44
8.40
8.11
7.96
7.95
1 = not important
10 = very important
Source: Survey commissioned by HK Chapter of the UN
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2018)

66. We will need 4.2 Earths if everyone adopts
Hong Kong’s current lifestyle
Our ecological footprint comes from…

67. HK has high potential to achieve net-
zero emissions by 2050

68. Where is the emissions-reduction
potential?

70. What can we do to go far for climate?

71. Source: Sustainable Consumption for a
Better Future. Consumer Council 2016

73. What can
you do?
Eating Habits
Hong Kong’s appetite for meat
(664g/day/capita) causes the
city to be one of the world’s
highest greenhouse gas emitter.
If HK citizens adopt the
governmental nutrient
guidelines on meat
consumption, Hong Kong
would achieve a 43% reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions.

74. What can
you do?
Eating Habits
"Best before" dates appear on a wide range of frozen,
dried, tinned and other foods. "Best before" dates are
about quality, not safety. When the date is passed, it
doesn't mean that the food will be harmful, but it
might begin to lose its flavour and texture.

75. What can
you do?
Zero Waste
§ If you avoid fast fashion and mainly buy second-handed 2pt
§ If you recycle carefully (plastic/paper/glass/can/etc…) 2pt + 1pt
if you have a compost
§ If you always ask for a doggy bag when you have leftovers in
restaurants 1pt
§ You have ever sorted out or done a big clean up in your space to
see what you don’t use anymore? You’re brave! 3pt
§ If you don’t use something anymore, and you choose to donate,
repair instead of throwing it away 2pt

78. Zero-waste store
Slo…wood
Edgar

79. Second-hand fashion
Green Ladies Luxford
Hipster 9 Grannie Kiddie

85. Donate / Borrow / Share

86. What can
you do?
Social
§ Do you actually talk about your eco-friendly habits with people? Do you
spread the word? Then it’s 2pt
§ You participate in a climate strike or joined an activist group 1pt
§ If you know what is greenwashing and how to avoid it 2pt
§ Have you ever sent an email to a brand or city to ask for eco-friendly
changes? If yes, 3pt
§ If you have ever watched a documentary about the environment and
inspiring way to change 1pt
§ You follow sustainable influencers/associations? 1pt
§ If you have ever planted a tree 3pt
§ Have you ever requested plastic-free gifts for yourself? Yes? then 2pt

87. What can
you do?
DIY
• If you make your own hygiene products 2pt
• Or even your own cleaning products 2pt
• If you create yourself gifts for other persons or buy only
experiences 1pt
Encompass HK
Coconut-oil toothpaste workshop

88. Calculate your own
carbon footprint

89. Educate yourself some more with these resources
Documentaries:
A Life on Our Planet – David Attenborough’s
witness statement
Cowspiracy – The impact of animal agriculture on
the planet
Earth Days – tracing history from industrialisation
to the consumerism culture and its impact on the
environment
Disobedience – A documentary produced by
350.org and their battle against fossil fuels, using
civil disobedience
An inconvenient Truth – Al Gore’s take on the
dangers of global warming
Podcast:
Green Dreamer – Interviews with pioneers
focusing on a variety of environmental issues
Sustainability Defined – Each episode focuses
on something that pushes sustainability
forward (new technology, theories)
Think: Sustainability – the link between
consumption and sustainability
Books/reports:
Down to Earth - Nature’s role in American
history by Ted Steinberg
Frontlines – Stories of Global Environmental
Injustice
IPCC report

91. Q&A

92. Encompass-HK
EncompassHKAsia
contact@encompasshk.com
04
Thank you!
www.encompasshk.com
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