Research FindingsBack

The research questionnaire consists of twelve main questions, with the demographic profile of respondents placed at the end. Results of each question are illustrated as follows. For details, please refer to the frequency tables attached (Appendix I).

The survey began by asking if the respondents considered climate change was related to poverty. Result revealed that, among the 515 respondents interviewed, percentages who thought climate change and poverty were 「related」 and 「not related」 were similar, yet that of the latter was higher (39% and 45% respectively), while 10% opted for 「half-half」 and 7% said they did not know (Table 1).

Then, survey asked if the respondents agreed that climate change would threaten the livelihood of citizens from poor countries. Results showed that majority of the respondents agreed (81%), 11% disagreed while 6% held a neutral standpoint towards this (Table 2).

As for who should be accountable for the climate change, almost 60% of the respondents agreed (57%) the life styles of Hong Kong people lead to carbon emission, which would indirectly cause poorer livelihood of citizens of poor countries. While almost 30% disagreed (27%), a little more than 10% said 「half-half」 (12%; Table 3).

The survey continued to investigate the attitudes of respondents who 「agreed」 or gave 「neutral」 answers towards life styles that were most likely to cause climate change. They were asked to choose at least one item among the six proposed by the interviewers, or to provide other opinions. Results revealed that, among the 354 valid respondents, almost 80% considered 「wasting resources/energy supply like water, electricity and coal」 and 「driving private vehicles」 were most likely to have caused climate change (77% and 76% respectively). Around 70% considered 「using one-off products」 (73%) and 「not doing trash classification and recycling」 (71%) were also possible causes to climate change, while those who believed 「over spending, buying unnecessary commodities」 and 「traveling by plane」 were most likely to have caused climate change accounted for 63% and 39% of the respondents (Tables 4 and 5).

With regards the accountability of Hong Kong people for climate change in poor countries, percentages of those who 「agreed」 and 「disagreed」 that Hong Kong should be held responsible were very close, with 37% and 38% respectively, while 21% opted for 「half-half」 (Table 6).

For those who 「agreed」 or opted for 「half-half」 that Hong Kong people were accountable for climate change in poor countries, the survey continued to ask what the government could do to relieve the poverty problems caused by climate change. They were asked to choose at least one from the two answers provided or to make other suggestions they could think of. Results revealed that, among the 295 valid responses, over 90% believed the government should 「set a goal to reduce emission of greenhouse gases」 (93%) while 33% said the government should 「donate money to help poor regions to cope with climate changes」 (Tables 7 and 8).

The above-mentioned respondents were further probed on what the government could do to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Out of the four options provided, more than 90% of the respondents opted for 「reinforce education on environmental protection, e.g. energy conservation, waste reduction, planting tree」 (92%), 80% thought the government should 「reinforce trash classification and recycling」, while a respective of over 70% opted for 「set a clear goal for local electricity firms on cutting greenhouse gases and using cleaner energy, e.g. renewable energy」 (77%) and 「set a goal for Hong Kong on reduction of greenhouse gases emission」 (71%; Tables 9 and 10).

When asked if they were willing to take some personal actions to reduce the impact of climate change on the poor people, majority of the people interviewed gave positive responses (83%), while only a small proportion opted for 「half-half」 (9%) or 「not willing to」 (6%; Table 11).

Then, the survey continued to ask respondents who answered 「willing to」 or 「half-half」 in the above question what specific actions they would take in order to reduce the impact of climate change on poor people. Six pre-determined options were read out for them to choose from, or they could come with up any other suggestions. Results indicated that, among 473 valid respondents, almost 90% were willing to 「recycle and reuse materials」 (87%) and 「conserve energy/water」 (86%), around 70% expressed that they were willing to 「avoid over-spending」 (72%). Over 50% opted for 「reducing the frequency of driving private vehicles」 (55%) and 「donate money to help poor countries to cope with climate change」 (51%), while 41% were willing to reduce the frequency of traveling by plane (Tables 12 and 13).

A follow-up question on why they were willing to take personal actions was posed to the above-mentioned respondents who were asked to choose at least one from the four reasons read out by the interviewers or to suggest other answers they could think of. Results showed that, among the 471 valid respondents, more than 80% were willing to take personal actions 「for the sake of the next generation」 (84%) while nearly 80% were willing to do so 「for conservation of the natural environment and ensuring sustainable development」 (79%). Those opted for 「to reduce the threat of natural disaster currently faced by poor people」 and 「do not want climate changes to cancel out the effort made on poverty alleviation work」 both accounted for 56% respectively (Tables 14 and 15).

Concerning the responsibility of Hong Kong for the climate change in China, respondents who 「agreed」 (41%) or 「disagreed」 (39%) that HK people were responsible for the climate change in China both account for around 40% of the total sample, while only 15% opted for 「half-half」 (Table 16). Last but not least, the survey tried to investigate why HK people were held responsible for the climate change in China. Among the 285 valid respondents who 「agreed」 or said 「half-half」 to this, over 70% considered 「HK people relocated factories to mainland」 (76%) and 「lifestyle of HK people emitted tremendous amount of greenhouse gases, thus accelerating climate change」 (71%) as the main reason. Besides, 57% considered 「HK people relied on the production and resources from the mainland for daily needs」 as another reason (Table 17).

Concluding Remarks

The survey reveals that, based on the Hong Kong population of age 16 or above, most of them agreed that climate change would threaten the livelihood of citizens from poor countries. However, such relationships are indirect ones. As for the responsibility and role of the Hong Kong people, most agreed the Hong Kong life styles that lead to carbon emission would indirectly cause poorer livelihood of citizens of poor countries. Among which the biggest problems stem from 「wasting resources」, 「driving private vehicles」, 「using one-off products」 and 「not doing trash classification and recycling」.

Although many people believed the Hong Kong life styles would indirectly cause poorer livelihood of citizens of poor countries, only one-third agreed that HK people should be accountable for climate change in poor countries. In fact, only 40% believed that we were responsible for the climate change in China. These show that most people had no remorse about the problem of global climate change and poverty.

Looking from the positive side, the majority of people were willing to take some personal actions to reduce the impact of climate change on the poor people for the sake of the next generation. These included actions to 「recycle and reuse materials」, 「conserve energy/water」 and to 「avoid over-spending」. Besides, many citizens wished the government to set a goal to reduce emission of greenhouse gases in order to relieve the poverty problems caused by climate change. As for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emission, they believed that the government should 「reinforce education on environmental protection」, 「reinforce trash classification and recycling」, 「set a clear goal for local electricity firms on cutting greenhouse gases」, 「set a goal for Hong Kong on reduction of greenhouse gases emission」, etc.