Policies of HKSAR govenment to tackle problems of global warming

The Hong Kong Observatory predicts that Hong Kong will experience a 3.5
degree centigrade rise in temperature over the city’s 1990 figure by the end of 21st century, which is a rate even higher than the world’s average. The
imminent crisis resulted from global warming is evident to Hong Kong.

The effect of global warming has been a hot topic for years. One million species are threatened with extinction by climate change. Disappearing Plankton, bottom of the food chain, disturbs the whole ecological environment. Weakened forests would give way to grasslands, and many forest species would fade away. Drought and possibly famine may be happened in China, the source of much of Hong Kong's food. Hong Kong could also be at risk from flooding as sea levels rose.

To save our earth, policies from difference countries had been issued. The major cause of global warming is the emission of green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, most of the policies are aimed to avoid green house gases.

In Hong Kong, Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy of HKSAR Government can help to reduce the problems of global warming. It encompasses protection of natural habitats, establishing sites with Special Scientific Interests(SSI), nature and parks such as country parks and marine parks reserve. Prevention of environmental degradation by law, Harbour Protection Ordinance, Ordinances for protection of endangered species, various pollution ordinances, is also included.

Renewable energy use and fewer cars are also encouraged. Hong Kong has been working closely with other economies, especially its neighbors and is charting a course to transform the highly developed Pearl River Delta Region into a green and quality living area, through setting joint targets on reducing emissions and co-operation in development of renewable energy, among other measures.

Actually, there are three main policies of HKSAR government. Firstly, cooperation with the Mainland. Extending the emission trading regime between the HKSAR and Guangdong Governments to cover carbon emissions. Secondly, energy policy. Securing the sustainable supply of liquefied natural gas in long term and facilitating increasing use of natural gas and adopting a regulatory approach to encourage energy conservation by end users. Finally, pollution tracking. Pollution mapping to enable more specific emission reduction targets to be set, and to improve micro-climates of specific districts through appropriate town planning and urban design measures.

Government has planned for long-lasting development so that it would not adversely affect the future environment nor have any impact to next generation. However, it is not enough. To tackle the problems of global warming, everyone is responsible to participate.

The expanding world of engineering

"An engineer's training helps to systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solution."How an engineer accomplishes this?

First of all, we must know that what is engineer's training? Engineer's training usually embraces computer technology, mathematics and physics. Besides, some may include environment, safety, health learning ,systems control and some specific trainings of different aspects such as electrical, mechanical and civil.

Most of the engineers should be able to use different computer softwares to control different sorts of control systems. It's because engineer's works can be running transportation systems, managing health-care systems or large scale projects and mega developments which are mentioned in Prof. Seeram Ramarkrishna's article.

As an electrical engineering student, I have been trained in electrical installation practice, lighting and electrical system design, basic scientific computing, power monitoring, integrated building systems. Most of them are system control related. I think engineering students should not just focus on the theoretical knowledge but on practical. I believe engineering education would also provide some sorts of practical trainings to engineering students. How are these works related to the systematically analysis of engineers?

Engineers must follow the step by step instructions for doing an analysis. That is the work they usually do in their trainings and also when using a software of control system. Firstly, they divide a complex sets of information into many small sets. Then, they would find out the solutions individually. They also think about what is the next stage or result when doing the first one in each small parts. There are general sequence and various stages needed to be undertaken to find out the outcomes.

We know that if a small part of control system is failed, serious consequences may be triggered. Therefore, engineers are aware of each steps. They consider the possible results when doing each parts. If there is any conflict, they will avoid it. Finally, they would also link up the related information from different parts. Mostly, engineers would also find out the solutions which are analysed by mathematics and physics. That's the systmaticlly approach in designing solutions.

Personally, systematically analysis is a effective way to design solution. It provides a comprehensive approach to outcomes, evaluation, monitoring and strategic planning. It helps us to think about the strategic planning steps, determine which parts should be the focus and the overall monitoring. Engineers have the mind of systematically analysis, that may be the main reason why the world of engineers is expanding.