Sustainable Living Hong Kong

Before we get too upset about a private developer destroying a pristine beach in Sai Kung, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture. The world’s seas have been rising between 2 and 6 mm per year, which may not seem like much.  But the combined effects of climate change are currently estimated to cause a rise in sea levels of between 18 to 59 cm from 1990 to 2100, not counting the impacts of melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets.

In realer terms, this means that much of what is called “beach” on the Eastern seaboard of the US will disappear, with seas forecast to take away 100 to 250 meters of land.   The rise in sea levels is more pronounced in Asia for a variety reasons, so we can only surmise that Hong Kong will also be affected.  It might well be nature’s revenge on our “just a little more” harbour reclamation habit.

It’s fine that the public is seeking to defend against private destructinon of a public resource, namely a beautiful beach.  The culprit is clear and everyone can feel righteous and angry.  But unless we act on climate change — which means changing our lifestyles drastically–  we would be saving the beach for ourselves to enjoy, while destroying it for the next generation.