When facing climate change which leads to more severe typhoons and mosquito-borne illnesses, The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Collaborating Centre for Oxford University and CUHK for Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response (CCOUC) conducted a series of territory-wide large scale telephone surveys in 2018. They included:
The study series had the following findings:
Climate change
|
Yes |
No |
Don’t know |
Climate change could cause |
|||
Global average temperature rise |
97.9% |
1.9% |
0.2% |
Increasing chance for natural disasters |
97.0% |
2.8% |
0.2% |
Sea level rise |
95.0% |
2.9% |
2.2% |
Changes in rainfall in particular regions |
92.8% |
5.6% |
1.6% |
More frequent typhoons |
89.7% |
8.9% |
1.4% |
Affecting human health |
93.5% |
6.1% |
0.4% |
Increasing health problems caused by hot weather |
92.8% |
6.6% |
0.6% |
Changes in communicable diseases’ mode of transmission, increasing the risk of pandemics (e.g. Influenza) |
89.1% |
9.9% |
1.0% |
What will cause climate change: |
|||
Large scale of deforestation |
96.6% |
3.2% |
0.2% |
Burning fossil fuels |
95.5% |
3.5% |
1.1% |
Large-scale use of chemical fertilizers |
77.8% |
19.1% |
3.1% |
Livestock farming e.g. cattle and sheep |
61.3% |
36.1% |
2.6% |
(Number of respondents =1,011)
( number of respondents = 1,011)
How worried are you regarding climate change’s effect on yourself or the future generations?
|
Extremely worried |
Very worried |
Worried |
A little worried |
Not too worried |
Don’t know |
Not worried at all |
Self |
3.5% |
8.8% |
37.1% |
38.8% |
11.7% |
0.2% |
- |
Future generations |
15.1% |
27.2% |
31.8% |
18.2% |
7.3% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
Health and environmental co-benefit behaviours
Health and environmental co-benefit behaviours |
Thinking the specific behavior is "important" or "very important" |
Reducing waste (e.g. use less plastic bags) |
76.6% |
Proper waste management (e.g. waste separation) |
77.2% |
Using or developing renewable energy |
75.6% |
Using less electricity |
69.6% |
Growing plants |
65.4% |
Eating less red meat |
36.9% |
(number of respondents = 1,011)
Understand of disaster and prevention
Types of typhoon preparedness activities |
Yes |
No |
Don’t know or not applicable |
Number of respondents |
Reserving fire extinguishing equipment |
11.7% |
88.3% |
0.0% |
540 |
Reserved emergency supplies before typhoon |
43.7% |
56.0% |
0.3% |
1,011 |
Reserved water supplies |
49.3% |
50.7% |
0.0% |
540 |
Had first-aid kit |
55.0% |
44.6% |
0.4% |
540 |
Reserved food supplies |
83.3% |
16.7% |
0.0% |
540 |
Typhoon "Mangkhut"
Affected by |
% |
Due to road blocks or traffic issues were not able to go to work or school (excluding the Monday/Tuesday where the Education Bureau announced school close (September 17/18) |
69.8% |
Loss of energy source (e.g. water or electricity) |
14.5% |
Home damage (e.g. broken windows) |
13.4% |
Affect living means e.g. shop was damaged |
5.6% |
Item loss (e.g. cars or pets) |
3.9% |
Injury |
2.2% |
Others |
17.9% |
(number of households = 179)
Reasons for going out |
% |
Non-emergencies |
75.6% |
For work |
18.6% |
Emergencies (e.g. injury or illness) |
5.8% |
(number of respondents = 86)
Hong Kong Government |
Enough |
Not enough |
Don’t Know/refuse to answer |
Was well prepared for this typhoon |
68.0% |
29.4% |
2.6% |
Provided enough information for Hong Kong residents to prepare/deal with this typhoon |
88.0% |
11.5% |
0.6% |
Disaster preparedness measures |
Yes |
No |
Don’t know/ not applicable |
Find the means and methods of getting related information early on |
85.1% |
14.9% |
0.0% |
Prepare food reserves early on |
77.6% |
22.4% |
0.0% |
Prepare basic medication early on (e.g. fever relievers) |
76.9% |
22.8% |
0.4% |
Prepare water reserves early on |
69.0% |
31.0% |
0.0% |
Prepare long term medication early on (at least 2 weeks supply) |
55.9% |
43.8% |
0.4% |
Learn about disaster preparedness/response early on |
51.6% |
47.7% |
0.7% |
Pack a disaster bag early on |
45.2% |
54.1% |
0.7% |
(number of respondents = 281)
Dengue fever
Mosquito preventive measures |
Yes |
No |
Using mosquito repellent |
25.5% |
74.5% |
Using mosquito sticker |
6.7% |
93.3% |
Wearing light colored and long clothes during outdoor activities |
3.6% |
96.4% |
Using mosquito net while sleeping |
0.2% |
99.8% |
(Number of respondents = 420)
HK people’s understanding of dengue fever |
Yes |
No |
Don’t know/not applicable |
Aware the news of local dengue fever cases in August announced by government |
95.4% |
3.8% |
0.8% |
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquito |
91.8% |
1.3% |
6.9% |
Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes |
79.5% |
0% |
20.5% |
(number of respondents = 610)
Location of frequent mosquito bites in August
Location |
Percentage |
Near bushy and grassy area |
62.4% |
At home |
42.0% |
Location while waiting transportation |
39.6%(NT:48.1%;HK:36.4%;KLN:29.3%) |
At workplace |
26.4% |
Location near water source |
18.0% |
In public transportation |
12.4% |
Location near construction area |
12.0% |
(number of respondents = 250)
Anti-mosquito measures |
before government announcement |
after government announcement |
Remove stagnant water |
50.7% |
55.7% |
Mosquito repellent |
40.7% |
39.0% |
Wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and long trousers |
28.7% |
29.7% |
Electronic mosquito repellent |
20.3% |
15.6% |
Insecticide |
19.3% |
18.4% |
Mosquito sticker |
18.9% |
17.7% |
Mosquito net at the surface of door or window |
13.6% |
13.3% |
Mosquito incense |
9.3% |
8.5% |
Mosquito bracelet |
6.7% |
4.6% |
Mosquito repellent plant |
3.0% |
2.5% |
Mosquito net when sleeping |
2.8% |
2.8% |
Detergent |
2.3% |
2.5% |
(number of respondents = 610)
The awareness and practice related to climate change have room for improvement
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C on October 8, 2018, urgently appealing to policymakers to rapidly promote major changes at all levels of society to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, because warming of 1.5°C or higher may result in a permanent and irreversible environmental change. Human activities have caused global temperatures to rise by 1°C from pre-industrial levels, and the consequences have been shown through more extreme weather events and the associated disasters and epidemics. Even if the emission reduction targets promised by the countries signing the current Paris Agreement are followed, the global temperature is likely to rise by 3°C by the end of the century. Our surveys show that in the face of this grim situation, there is room for improvement in the awareness and practice related to climate change, disasters and epidemics. For the sake of our future generations, we have a responsibility to promote and implement health and environmental co-benefits behaviours now. Via this series of surveys, we hope that the various government departments can have more data to improve policies and measures related to climate change, disaster preparedness and epidemic prevention.
In face of the more severe threat of climate change, the public must abandon the old idea of Hong Kong as a blessed land, and actively prepare for disasters, including preparing fire-fighting equipment, first-aid kits, medications and emergency supplies at home, learning disaster preparedness and relief knowledge and taking first-aid courses, and preparing for disaster bags, etc. To cope with mosquito hazards and the related epidemics worsened by climate change, the public cannot take these issues lightly. In addition to relying on the government's measures on preventing mosquito bites and mosquito breeding, they should also strengthen their awareness of mosquito hazards and step up relevant preventive measures.