Funded by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council
PrincipaI investigator
Dr. Laurence L. DELINA
Co-Investigators
Assoc. Prof. Kevin TAM (HKUST)
Assoc. Prof. Daphne MAH (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Project Advisors
Dr. Kirsten JENKINS (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Prof. Vanessa CASTAN-BROTO (University of Sheffield, UK)
Research postgraduate student
Ms. Chloe CHAN (Fall 2022 to 2024)
Student assistants
Ms. Hei Mei Hayley WONG (Summer 2023)
Mr. Ying Han YAP (Spring 2023)
The growing demand for energy, particularly for cooling, is set to increase due to more frequent irregular weather patterns. This puts individuals, households, and communities at risk of not having enough energy for their homes and workplaces.
Energy insecurity means not having access to or not affording reliable and sustainable energy sources. This affects various aspects, like lighting, cooking, cooling, and even powering medical equipment. This challenge applies regardless of the specific energy need.
Interestingly, Hong Kong’s official statistics and policies haven’t formally acknowledged energy insecurity yet. We don’t fully understand the demographics of those lacking energy access, where they’re located, or the many factors that make them more vulnerable. The negative effects on their well-being and dignity due to energy insecurity, along with their coping strategies, are not well-studied.
Addressing this gap, our project uses a mixed-method research approach. We quantitatively analyze survey data from different vulnerable groups, using the energy justice framework as a lens. This data is complemented by immersive ethnographic studies and in-depth case analyses, which help us understand how various vulnerabilities interact. This research is especially crucial given the limited attention energy insecurity receives in Hong Kong’s academic and policy circles.
Outputs
Journal article: Chan, C. and Delina, L.L. (2023). Energy poverty and beyond: The state, contexts, and trajectories of energy poverty studies in Asia. Energy Research & Social Science 102:103168 doi:10.1016/j.erss.2023.103168
Conference presentation: Chan, C. and Delina, L.L. (2023). Name them! Developing a taxonomy of Hong Kong’s energy insecure populations in climate-constrained urban geographies, 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 3 September 2023.
Conference presentation: Delina, L.L. (2022). Energy insecurity in Hong Kong’s vulnerable populations. Climate Adaptation and Resilience 2022 (CARE2022) Conference, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 11 December. Watch here (starts at 2:33:52)
Poster: Chloe Chan, Delina, L.L., Daphne Mah, and Kevin Tam (2024). More warming, more insecurities: Uncovering the vulnerabilities of Hong Kong’s energy insecure groups to increasing number of hot days and hot nights. HeatCARE2024: Climate Adaptation and Resilience Conference 2024: Surviving the Heat. HKUST. 6 and 7 May.
click the poster to view.
Poster: Chloe Chan, Delina, L.L., Daphne Mah, and Kevin Tam. (2023). More warning, more insecurities: Uncovering the vulnerabilities, impacts, and adaptation of Hong Kong’s energy insecure groups to increasing number of hot days and hot nights. HKUST Institute for the Environment. June.
click the poster to view.
Poster: Chloe Chan (2023). Energy insecurity in Hong Kong’s vulnerable populations. Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences Student Poster Symposium. 24 February.
click the poster to view.
Poster: Chloe Chan and Delina, L.L. (2022). Energy insecurity in Hong Kong’s vulnerable populations. HKUST Energy Institute Research Showcase. 9 December.
click the poster to view.
The Delina Research Group 