Hong Kong environment chief discusses carbon markets, green tech at UN climate summit in Turkey
Hong Kong Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan attended COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, meeting officials on energy transition, hydrogen and green transport. He spoke at a Hong Kong Engineers Institute event on decarbonisation and met with China's delegation on carbon strategy. Climate chang
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, continued his participation in the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, on 11 and 12 November 2026, holding a series of bilateral meetings and delivering a keynote speech on decarbonisation.
On 11 November, Tse met Moon Jin, head of the Climate Action Practice Division at the Climate and Energy Bureau of Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea, to exchange views on energy transition, hydrogen development and green transport. Later that day, he addressed a reception hosted by the Hong Kong Engineers Institute, where he delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong’s carbon reduction strategy and progress. Tse said engineers were a core force driving decarbonisation and green transformation, playing a key role in green technology, net-zero power generation, sustainable aviation fuel development, zero waste-to-landfill implementation, and climate resilience. He said the Hong Kong government, through the “Belt and Road” Green Development Cooperation Platform, established jointly with China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, would continue to help the engineering sector export green solutions to emerging markets.
During the reception, Tse also exchanged views with the Hong Kong Engineers Institute delegation and young engineers attending the conference. On 12 November, Tse met with Gino Van Begin, secretary general of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and Stewart Maginnis, deputy director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), discussing climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development and enhanced city-level cooperation.
Tse later met with Huang Runqiu and Li Gao, deputy minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and head of China’s delegation, to discuss carbon reduction strategies, progress and green finance cooperation between China and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s climate change commissioner, Yeung Sau-kuen, attended the launch ceremony of the Global Carbon Network, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The network aims to connect carbon exchanges, financial institutions, investors and project developers to promote high-integrity carbon markets, climate action financing and international cooperation.
In his speech at the ceremony, Yeung said the network’s establishment was important for implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, enhancing carbon market credibility and mobilising climate finance for developing economies. He highlighted Hong Kong’s carbon reduction targets and achievements, and noted that as an international green finance centre and “super-connector”, Hong Kong had been actively promoting high-integrity carbon credit development and global carbon market cooperation through platforms such as the Core Climate international carbon trading platform.
Tse Chin-wan departed Antalya on the evening of 12 November and was due to arrive in Hong Kong on the afternoon of 13 November 2026.
