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The Environment
humid with occasional heavy rain and thunderstorms. Tropical cyclones usually affect the territory between June and October, bringing high winds, heavy rain and sometimes storm
surges.
November and December are generally fine and dry with pleasantly cool weather, although on occasions, it may be relatively cold at night and in the early morning.
The Year's Weather
In 2015, Hong Kong was exceptionally warm. The annual mean temperature reached 24.2 degrees Celsius, the highest since records began in 1884, while the mean temperatures for summer and autumn were also record-breaking. In particular, the daily maximum temperature on 8 August 2015 soared to a record high of 36.3 degrees. The year was significantly drier than usual, with total rainfall about 22 per cent below the norm. Tropical cyclone warning signals were issued three times, including the No 8 Gale or Storm Signal for the passage of Typhoon Linfa in July. For the first time since 1946, no tropical cyclone warning signal was issued in August and September.
Climate Change
Impact on Hong Kong
The government attaches much importance to combating climate change, and implements various mitigation and adaptation measures to meet this global challenge. Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include switching to cleaner fuels for power generation; enhancing energy efficiency, particularly in buildings; exploring the potential of renewable energy and waste-to-energy conversion; and developing an efficient and environment-friendly public transport system.
In November 2015, the government released a Hong Kong Climate Change Report 2015, which outlined the work and joint efforts of the government and the private sector in responding to climate change. It also provides an account of Hong Kong's climate change actions to give the public a more complete picture of the territory's contributions to concerted global actions.
Carbon Intensity Reduction Target
The government focuses on the power and transport sectors, which are the major contributors of local emissions, in working towards its target, set in 2010, of reducing carbon intensity by 50 to 60 per cent by 2020 from the 2005 level. During a three-month public consultation launched in March 2014, it collected views on the future fuel mix for electricity generation. The two fuel mix options presented for consultation were (a) to import more electricity by buying from the Mainland power grid; and (b) to generate local energy through using more natural gas. The option of local energy generation drew majority support among the roughly 86,000 submissions received. Having considered the public's views, the government plans to increase the percentage of natural gas generation to around 50 per cent in 2020, and to maintain the current interim measure of importing 80 per cent of nuclear output from the Guangdong Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station so that the import of nuclear energy would account for about 25 per cent of the total fuel mix. Subject to public views on the tariff implications, the government is prepared to develop more renewable energy and will also
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