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SECTION
3 NATURAL RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
| 3.6 |
Minerals,
Aggregates and Energy |
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| 3.6.3 |
Sustainability
Appraisal |
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| 3.6.3.1 |
In
parallel with the situation regarding freshwater
resources, Hong Kong's dearth of mineral,
aggregates and energy supplies requires
a reliance on external sources to meet current
and/or future demands. In most cases, with
the possible exception of sand and aggregate
resources, this has been the situation for
many years and stable supply routes have
evolved to ensure timely and sufficient
provision of resources.
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| 3.6.3.2 |
Therefore although the resource supply issue
is not critical, the by-products of the
demand for these resources will have effects
on other natural capital stock components
in Hong Kong. For example, further exploitation
of remaining sand resources may entail undesirable
impacts to the marine environment, and continuation
of inefficient and high emission power generation
technologies will affect local air quality.
The adverse effects of such resource use
can be addressed by reducing demand, in
the case of aggregates by increasing the
recycling of construction and demolition
material as fill or aggregate feed (see
Paragraph 3.5.4.9 - Solid Waste),
and in the case of energy resources by reducing
wastage through policy incentives and community
education.
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| 3.6.3.3 |
Despite
policy and technology developments to reduce
the demand for current fuel resources (ie
coal, natural gas, oil), it is expected that
energy consumption will continue to increase
over time in response to the same population
and consumer behaviour pressures that drive
the use of freshwater resources and solid
waste generation. Nevertheless, long-term
sustainability of energy resources can be
enhanced by more efficient utilisation of
non-renewable resources (eg cleaner-burning
forms of transport, combined-cycle power generation,
interconnection of Hong Kong generators).
Following the progress in implementation of
DSM, opportunities for further wide-reaching
policies and standards for energy management,
design and efficiency should also be pursued.
To date, alternative and renewable energy
technologies have not been adopted on a significant
scale within Hong Kong, apart from a few isolated
examples such as solar thermal installations
for domestic hot water and swimming pool heating.
Government has recently indicated its intention
to devote greater attention to research the
potential for applications of alternative
and renewable energy sources in Hong Kong.
These initiatives should allow Hong Kong to
understand how it could improve the sustainability
of its energy sector. |
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| 3.6.3.4 |
Reductions
in the use of non-renewable energy resources,
and better efficiency of use of all sources,
will result in more sustainable resource utilisation,
as well as produce important benefits for
local air quality. Given that Hong Kong imports
all of its energy resources, is already linked
with the Mainland power grid (through the
Daya Bay supply), and experiences the air
quality effects of regional power generation
practices, it is essential that Hong Kong's
long-term energy planning be conducted taking
into account regional developments and co-ordinated
with that of the Mainland as appropriate. |
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| 3.6.3.5 |
The
principal drivers, actions for change and
unmitigated impacts relating to minerals,
aggregates and energy are summarised in Figure
3.6a. |
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