In the densely populated city of Hong Kong, residents like Yeung Fong-yan are facing exacerbated living conditions due to the impacts of climate change. Despite running her air conditioner at full capacity on a scorching summer day, Yeung’s small tin-roofed apartment turned into an oven, recording a sweltering 36°C (96.8°F) indoors.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by the city’s poorest residents in coping with rising temperatures and extreme weather events. The combination of cramped living spaces and inadequate cooling systems intensifies the heat stress experienced by individuals like Yeung, underscoring the vulnerability of marginalized communities to climate-related risks.

Experts warn that Hong Kong’s urban heat island effect, exacerbated by climate change, is likely to worsen in the coming years, posing significant health risks to residents, particularly those living in substandard housing conditions. The disproportionate impact of rising temperatures on the city’s most vulnerable populations underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation strategies and targeted support measures.

Authorities in Hong Kong are facing increasing pressure to address the intersecting challenges of climate change, urban planning, and social inequality to safeguard the well-being of all residents. Failure to implement effective mitigation and adaptation measures could further exacerbate the living conditions of the city’s poorest inhabitants, amplifying existing socio-economic disparities.

In response to the escalating climate challenges, a spokesperson for an environmental advocacy group emphasized the importance of prioritizing climate resilience in urban development policies. “We need holistic approaches that address both environmental sustainability and social equity to ensure a more resilient and equitable future for all residents,” the spokesperson stated, underscoring the critical need for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Hong Kong’s most vulnerable communities.