Hong Kong’s stature as a host of world-class mega-events is growing. Headline-making events – from Art Basel and the Hong Kong Sevens to the Coldplay concerts – stimulate economic growth, create jobs and enhance the city’s reputation as a vibrant international destination.

Major events in the first half of 2025 are expected to attract 840,000 visitors and generate HK$3.3 billion in spending, as well as HK$1.8 billion in additional economic value.

The success of such events goes beyond attendance and revenue, however, as global audiences and investors increasingly focus on environmental impact, particularly carbon emissions. Decarbonising these events is both essential and an opportunity for Hong Kong to lead the region in sustainability, thereby boosting its reputation as a progressive global city.

This November, all eyes will be on southern China as the 15th National Games unfold for the first time across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. More than a sporting milestone, the games are a significant opportunity to promote sustainable practices.

Large-scale events worldwide are notorious for their carbon emissions, energy consumption and waste. The influx of visitors, increased demand for transport, extensive on-site catering and significant waste generation further contribute to the environmental burden.

The challenge for Hong Kong, which is striving to become a sustainable city, is clear: how can it balance economic gain with environmental responsibility and utilise mega-events as a catalyst for green transformation?

A pragmatic, stage-specific approach is essential to decarbonising mega-events in Hong Kong. In planning events, the city can draw inspiration from the mainland.

Zhejiang guidelines require sports events to be “green, smart, frugal” and consider sustainability in building new venues and upgrading them. For the Asian Games in Hangzhou, just 12 venues were newly constructed; the rest were renovated with an emphasis on prefabricated building techniques and using sustainable materials.

Shenzhen has gone even further by mandating carbon reduction through green venues, clean energy, sustainable transport and resource efficiency. Organisers must calculate greenhouse gas emissions after each event and achieve carbon neutrality through verified offsets, such as carbon credits or forestry investments.

Hong Kong should similarly encourage, or even mandate, organisers and venues to obtain ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management. This internationally recognised framework, already adopted by leading global events, provides a clear road map for incorporating sustainability into every aspect of planning.

Practical measures must be prioritised during events to reduce waste and emissions. The Hong Kong Sevens introduced reusable cups a few years ago, but dropped the practice this year. Venues like Kai Tak Sports Park have restrictions on personal bottles, limiting options for reducing single-use waste.

Concerts and performances can hold valuable lessons. For its four-night run at Kai Tak, Coldplay set high sustainability standards by distributing reusable LED wristbands made from plant-based materials. On average, about 86 per cent of the wristbands have been returned for reuse.

Event organisers should aim to broaden the use of reusable items and enhance recycling rates by reintroducing best practices and establishing the highest standards. Exhibitions such as Art Basel produce substantial amounts of single-use waste from packaging. Organisations can support on-site recycling and waste reduction initiatives by utilising the government’s E-Green Voucher Scheme.

Hong Kong must create a system that rewards sustained progress, taking inspiration from initiatives like the Singapore Tourism Board’s grants for sustainability certification.

The city can develop comparable programmes encouraging events and venues to pursue recognised carbon reduction standards. Furthermore, integrating carbon reduction targets into Hong Kong’s “M” Mark assessment criteria for major events would ensure that sustainability becomes a core metric for event success rather than a peripheral consideration.

Public-private partnerships should also be prioritised to facilitate the adoption of new technologies, ranging from digital ticketing to low-carbon transport, which can help reduce the environmental footprints of large events.

While guidelines on green events exist in Hong Kong, it is time to transition to mandatory, enforceable standards for waste management, energy efficiency, carbon tracking and sustainable sourcing. These standards ought to be transparent, publicly reported and enforced.

However, regulations and guidelines must strike a careful balance: they should be ambitious enough to drive genuine decarbonisation, yet not so stringent as to deter event organisers from choosing Hong Kong as their preferred destination. Flexibility and a collaborative approach will maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a global events hub.

Sustainability is now central to global city branding. Cities like Vancouver and Copenhagen have leveraged their green credentials to attract investment, talent and tourism. By using mega-events to establish new environmental standards and drawing inspiration from the success of Zhejiang, Shenzhen and Singapore, Hong Kong can reshape its image as a modern, innovative and responsible city.

As Hong Kong prepares to co-host the 15th National Games, it can set a new benchmark for Asia, showcasing its vision, innovation and commitment to a sustainable future.