Thousands of people are responding to “Green Walk” and promoting Hong Kong as a “Walkable City” 3,600,000 steps 68 tons of carbon emissions reduced

Press photos：https://goo.gl/ELQ7HM

(Hong Kong, November 5^th) The World Health Organisation has listed walking as ‘the world’s best exercise’. To encourage people to develop good walking habits and practice a low-carbon lifestyle, the World Green Organisation is launching its first annual “Green WALK Hong Kong 2016” event today. We are inviting the Hong Kong people to walk any time, any where in Hong Kong on this date to transform Hong Kong to a ‘walkable city’. The general public can participate in this fun and exciting event by downloading our free “Green WALK HK” app. The app records the number of steps taken daily, amount of calories burnt, as well as the carbon dioxide emissions reduced by walking instead of taking short-distance vehicles.

Since its inception in September, participants have averaged approximately 10,000 steps a day, according to the app. Accumulative number of steps have exceeded more than 3.6 billion steps (this is equivalent to more than 270,000 kilometres or nearly 7 laps around earth. Using our calculations, this means that we have reduced over 68 tonnes of carbon emissions (this is the weight of about 5.5 double decker buses and equivalent to how much carbon emissions 150,000 trees absorb a year). The results were very encouraging.

Government Officials personally show their support for environmental change    
Celebrities encouraging good walking habits

“Green WALK Hong Kong” and Green Market was held this morning at Chater Garden in Central. Officiating guests include Mr. Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Yau Shing-mu, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Shun Chi-ming, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, as well as Dr. William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organisation. After hosting our opening ceremony, these guests, along with our business leaders walked to the Hong Kong Ferris wheel to support the climate change through carbon emissions reduction.

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that he hopes that more people would walk to reduce traffic and improve roadside air quality by reducing carbon emissions.

Dr. William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organization, is calling all government officials and departments to come together to make Hong Kong a liveable and healthy city.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment said,

Government policy is actively planning to encourage walking in public spaces in Hong Kong. We know and understand the social and environmental benefits of walking in the community. As such, I hope that we will walk more steps and reduce traffic demand and vehicle emissions to improve roadside air quality and thereby reducing carbon emissions. I encourage us all to work together to tackle global climate change and improve our local air quality one step at a time.

Dr. William Yu, Chief Executive Officer of World Green Organisation, said

Efforts to increase walking, decrease carbon emissions and usage of short distance vehicles by beautifying footpaths, increasing bicycling parks, etc. in many international countries, from Europe’s Amsterdam, Vienna, and the United Kingdom, to Asia’s Taiwan and Singapore, have proven successful. Although the subway system in Hong Kong is constantly developing, it only covers 40% of all residential areas and 70% of commercial areas of Hong Kong. There are still a lot of places in Hong Kong that are not located within 500 meters of a railway station. Even then, the Hong Kong people are still not walking as much as they should be. I hope that this event will raise public awareness of all the benefits of walking. I hope that next year more people will participate in Green WALK HK.

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing Mr. Yau Shing-mu, and the Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organisation, Dr. William Yu walking together from Chater Garden to the Hong Kong Ferris Wheel to support walking.

A 360-degree shot of government officials, business leaders, and community members coming together for this cause.

The 4 member of C AllStar: Andy Leung, Kenny Chan, King Wu, and Jase Ho, shared how their habit of wandering around the city influenced their singing style. They said that they would sometimes wander around the city with no destination in mind and just watch people and the world around them for inspirations for their songs. They also encouraged their fans to develop good walking habits, cultivate a low-carbon lifestyle, and together combat climate change.

In addition to having support from the show business, WGO also invited Moomin from Moomin Valley to attract enthusiastic greeting from their young and older friends. Many fans took photos and embraced him. Moomon, who came from a beautiful, nature-filled home, came to encourage and teach adults and children how to cherish the environment and live a green work and home life.

Walking in all 3 of Hong Kong’s regions. Promote a slower and healthier weekend

To attract the general public to participate in “Green WALK Hong Kong”, WGO also organize a ‘green market’ at Chater Garden. There were nearly 30 stalls including virtual reality (VR) recycling games, eco-friendly workshops, sports and environmental activities, as well as environmental education booths for the public to participate in for free.

There was also be 5 special tours lasting from 30 minutes to 2 hours in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and new territories that feature Hong kong’s unique historical and cultural attractions. participants can enjoy the greenery as they explore new parts of Hong Kong, create artwork and coffee cup holders at the coffee art workshops, design new book covers, learn more on how to be green at recycling workshops, or even receive a mysterious gift box at some checkpoints. Some guided tours partnered with local conservation sites and business owners. Through this event, wgo brought together the community, took a much needed break, and enjoyed everything that Hong Kong has to offer. Everyone who participated was able to enjoy a slower and healthier weekend.

WGO’s ‘Green WALK HK’ app also partners with small local businesses
Encouraging citizens to live a greener life

In addition to encouraging the general public to live a greener life by walking more, this initiative is also calling business orders to cultivate good green practices. WGO reached out to small local businesses that have demonstrated their efforts to be more environmentally friendly. The general public can go on our free mobile app to search and support these small local businesses. Support green practices so that the Hong Kong can become a healthier and better city.

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World Green Organisation