The Research Centre for ESG Advancement (RCESGA) and the School of Accounting and Finance (AF) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), led by Prof. Qiang Wu, Director of RCESGA and Professor and Associate Head (Research) of AF, and Prof. Nan Yang, Associate Professor of Finance at AF, in collaboration with Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK), have released a joint research report, “Hong Kong Climate Awareness: Public Understanding, Risk Perception and Readiness for a Low-Carbon Future”. The study draws on an online survey of 2,000 adult residents across all 18 districts of Hong Kong, with quotas applied across age, gender, broad geographical area, education and housing type.

Public understanding of climate-related issues is important as Hong Kong works towards its carbon-neutrality goals. The report examines public awareness of climate change, perceptions of local climate risks, everyday behavioural responses, and views on climate policies and green finance.

The Hong Kong Climate Awareness Index

Based on the survey data, the research team developed the Hong Kong Climate Awareness Index (HKCAI), a composite indicator for assessing climate awareness among Hong Kong residents across three dimensions: foundational understanding of climate change, awareness of local climate impacts, and perceptions of climate-related risks. Rather than serving as a test of factual knowledge, the HKCAI provides a structured baseline for identifying differences across population groups, tracking changes over time and supporting public education and policymaking.
The HKCAI recorded a mean score of 74.67 out of 100, suggesting a relatively high general level of climate awareness among respondents, while also pointing to areas where further improvement is needed.

Key Findings

Climate awareness is widespread but uneven. Around 95% of respondents believe that climate change is happening. However, HKCAI scores vary across groups: respondents aged 55–64 recorded the lowest mean score among age groups, while those with a primary education or below recorded the lowest mean score among education groups. The findings suggest that targeted communication for lower-scoring groups could help narrow awareness gaps.

There is a clear gap between awareness and regular action. Although around 87% of respondents are concerned about climate change, only about 53% say they always or often take action to reduce their personal carbon footprint. The main reported barriers are cost, inconvenience and doubts about the impact of individual actions. The report therefore suggests that efforts to encourage change should focus on making lower-carbon choices more affordable and convenient, and on showing how individual actions can contribute to wider outcomes.

Support for climate policies is broad, but affordability matters. Each of the seven policy measures examined received support from 77% to 85% of respondents. However, support weakens when policies are perceived to involve even a modest increase in living costs: it ranges from about 62% among households earning below HK$15,000 per month to 89% among those earning HK$120,000 or above. The report highlights the importance of designing climate policies that balance affordability with social equity.

Residents are broadly aware of and interested in green finance, but product-level knowledge remains limited. Around 87% of respondents have heard of green financial products, and about 79% say they would be very or somewhat likely to use such products offered by banks. The report notes that this reflects stated willingness to consider such products rather than confirmed demand or actual adoption. Narrowing the gap between awareness and informed use may require clearer information on product features and environmental benefits, together with convenient access and competitive terms.

Implications

The study provides a baseline for tracking these changes over time, helping future education, policy and market initiatives respond more closely to Hong Kong’s evolving needs. It also points to an opportunity: only 23% of respondents selected banks or financial institutions as a preferred source of climate information, and 8% selected schools or universities. Universities generate climate knowledge and train future professionals, while banks connect climate issues with financing decisions and green financial products. Both can play a stronger role in climate communication by making reliable information more accessible, deepening public understanding and encouraging climate-friendly action.

Keywords: Climate awareness, Hong Kong, Climate risk perception, Green finance, Low-carbon transition, Public engagement, Climate policy, ESG

Research Paper: The Research Centre for ESG Advancement and the School of Accounting and Finance, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in collaboration with Bank of China (Hong Kong) (2026) Hong Kong Climate Awareness: Public Understanding, Risk Perception and Readiness for a Low-Carbon Future.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.bochk.com/dam/esg/download/Research-Paper/Hong-Kong-Climate-Awareness-Public-Understanding-Risk-Perception-and-Readiness-for-a-Low-Carbon-Future.pdf