This document discusses the parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of climate change. It notes that while the immediate effects of the pandemic prompted a rapid global response, climate change poses a more difficult long-term challenge. Several lessons can be learned from the pandemic, including the need for stricter rules and more radical changes to address climate change. Individual actions are discussed as well, such as adopting more sustainable diets and lifestyles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Education resources on climate issues are also provided.

1. Climate Change
& The Pandemic

2. Pandemic &
Climate
Change
• We ignored the warnings
• We are unprepared
• Speed of transmission and
impact on our economies of
the pandemic in our
globalised, hyper-connected
world

3. Pandemic & Climate Change
• Response: The world is responding to the virus because its
effects are so shocking. Curing the climate is more difficult.
• Private sector: Business is responding dramatically to COVID-
19. We need a similar response to our climate challenges.
• Economic impact: The damage from the virus is clear when you
check your investment accounts. But the cost of climate change
can be calculated, too.
• The careless: We have seen the pictures of people who refuse
to maintain a safe distance during this COVID crisis. The world
is filled with people who refuse to reckon with climate change.

4. Spread of COVID-19 likely constrained by climate
Source: Arauji M and Naimi B (2020)
Temperate warm and cold
climates are more favorable to
spread of the virus.
Arid and tropical climates are less
favorable.

5. Zoonotic disease
¾ of new and emerging disease infecting
humans originated in animals

6. Permafrost and Bacteria
Even if humanity can cap the world’s temperature rise at 2oC by the end of the century, 25%
of the existing permafrost would still melt.

7. Lessons from the
pandemic
§ The rapid response to COVID-19 around the world
illustrates the remarkable capacity of society to put
the emergency brake on "business-as-usual" simply
by acting in the moment.
§ We need stricter rules, and more radical change on
climate change
§ Pursuing the UN SDGS, carbon offsetting schemes,
incremental eco-efficiencies, vegan diets for the
wealthy and other similar tactics will not
stop climate change because they do not discourage
mass industrial production and consumption but
simply shift their emphasis.

8. Source: Klenert et al. (2020).

11. Challenges
Climate Deniers
Lack of Education
Lack of Financial Budget for
environmental action
Not a priority
In the budget of 2018-2019, only
4.8% was allocated to Environment
and Food

12. Source: Kate Raworth & Christian Guthier
The Lancet Planetary Health
Meet the doughnut model

13. Priority of SDGs in Hong Kong
According to average score (on a 1-10 scale)
The SDG that Hong Kong public
care the least is SDG12:
Responsible Consumption &
Production (6.8)
8.81
8.71
8.44
8.40
8.11
7.96
7.95
1 = not important
10 = very important
Source: Survey commissioned by HK Chapter of the UN
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2018)

14. We will need 4.2 Earths if everyone adopts
Hong Kong’s current lifestyle
Our ecological footprint comes from…

15. HK has high potential to achieve net-
zero emissions by 2050

16. Where is the emissions-reduction
potential?

17. What can we do to go far for climate?

18. Source: Sustainable Consumption for a
Better Future. Consumer Council 2016

20. What can
you do?
Eating Habits
Hong Kong’s appetite for meat
(664g/day/capita) causes the
city to be one of the world’s
highest greenhouse gas emitter.
If HK citizens adopt the
governmental nutrient
guidelines on meat
consumption, Hong Kong
would achieve a 43% reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions.

21. What can
you do?
Eating Habits
"Best before" dates appear on a wide range of frozen,
dried, tinned and other foods. "Best before" dates are
about quality, not safety. When the date is passed, it
doesn't mean that the food will be harmful, but it
might begin to lose its flavour and texture.

22. What can
you do?
Zero Waste
§ If you avoid fast fashion and mainly buy second-handed 2pt
§ If you recycle carefully (plastic/paper/glass/can/etc…) 2pt + 1pt
if you have a compost
§ If you always ask for a doggy bag when you have leftovers in
restaurants 1pt
§ You have ever sorted out or done a big clean up in your space to
see what you don’t use anymore? You’re brave! 3pt
§ If you don’t use something anymore, and you choose to donate,
repair instead of throwing it away 2pt

25. Zero-waste store
Slo…wood
Edgar

26. Second-hand fashion
Green Ladies Luxford
Hipster 9 Grannie Kiddie

32. Donate / Borrow / Share

33. What can
you do?
Social
§ Do you actually talk about your eco-friendly habits with people? Do you
spread the word? Then it’s 2pt
§ You participate in a climate strike or joined an activist group 1pt
§ If you know what is greenwashing and how to avoid it 2pt
§ Have you ever sent an email to a brand or city to ask for eco-friendly
changes? If yes, 3pt
§ If you have ever watched a documentary about the environment and
inspiring way to change 1pt
§ You follow sustainable influencers/associations? 1pt
§ If you have ever planted a tree 3pt
§ Have you ever requested plastic-free gifts for yourself? Yes? then 2pt

34. What can
you do?
DIY
• If you make your own hygiene products 2pt
• Or even your own cleaning products 2pt
• If you create yourself gifts for other persons or buy only
experiences 1pt
Encompass HK
Coconut-oil toothpaste workshop

35. Calculate your own
carbon footprint

36. Educate yourself some more with these resources
Documentaries:
A Life on Our Planet – David Attenborough’s
witness statement
Cowspiracy – The impact of animal agriculture on
the planet
Earth Days – tracing history from industrialisation
to the consumerism culture and its impact on the
environment
Disobedience – A documentary produced by
350.org and their battle against fossil fuels, using
civil disobedience
An inconvenient Truth – Al Gore’s take on the
dangers of global warming
Podcast:
Green Dreamer – Interviews with pioneers
focusing on a variety of environmental issues
Sustainability Defined – Each episode focuses
on something that pushes sustainability
forward (new technology, theories)
Think: Sustainability – the link between
consumption and sustainability
Books/reports:
Down to Earth - Nature’s role in American
history by Ted Steinberg
Frontlines – Stories of Global Environmental
Injustice
IPCC report

37. Encompass-HK
EncompassHKAsia
contact@encompasshk.com
04
Thank you!
www.encompasshk.com
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