How does climate change affect us in Hong Kong?
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, extreme precipitation events are becoming more frequent than ever before. In the past, record-breaking hourly rainfall occurred only once every few decades at the Observatory Headquarters, but in recent decades, records have been repeatedly broken.
Extreme Weather
Sourse: The Hong Kong Observatory
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, "Over the past 100 years, the number of hot nights (daily minimum temperature of 28 degrees or above) and hot days (daily maximum temperature of 33 degrees or above) in Hong Kong has increased, while the number of cold days (daily minimum temperature of 12 degrees or below) has decreased.
Global Warming
Sourse: The Hong Kong Observatory
Sourse: European Commission
Since 1880, global warming has raised global sea levels by about 8 inches (~20.32 cm) and the rate of rise is accelerating. Sea level rise has greatly increased the likelihood of damaging floods caused by storms.
Moreover, scientists expect sea levels to continue to rise this century, depending in large part on how much heat-trapping pollution from greenhouse gases is released into the sky.
Sea Level Rise
Sourse: Bifrost
This video shows Hong Kong at 4°C (which is the current trend); and 2°C, to better understand and contrast what is at stake in our current carbon emissions trend.
