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To assist owners of fishing vessels affected by a ban on trawling in HKC waters introduced in December 2012, the FDLF had provided one-off loans for upgrading vessels to operate outside HKC waters or for switching to more sustainable fishing operations; the deadline for applying for these loans was 31 December 2015. Currently, loans are provided under the FDLF to encourage fishermen and fish farmers to switch to sustainable fisheries operations or environmentally friendly operations. In February 2015, the total approved commitment of the FDLF was raised to HK$1,100 million (compared with HK$290 million previously). Furthermore, a HK$500 million Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund (SFDF) was established in 2014 to provide financial assistance (grants) for carrying out research and development programmes that would help improve the operating environment and competitiveness of the fishing industry. Between April 2014 and March 2018, eight applications, comprising six projects on aquaculture and two on fisheries-related eco-tourism, were approved, involving a total commitment of about HK$41 million.

(…) HKC is a net energy importer; according to the authorities, it has only a small amount of indigenous energy resources (e.g. solar energy). (…) The Environment Bureau's policy monitors prices and the strategic reserves of energy, and sets the fuel mix for electricity generation regarding, inter alia, environmental targets (e.g. those related to carbon emissions and energy intensity). [15]

[15] The Government has set the emission targets for 2020 specifically to reduce sulphur dioxide by 35 75%, nitrogen oxides by 20-30%, and respirable suspended particulates by 15-40% (from 2010). It has also set a target to reduce HKC's carbon intensity by 50-60% by 2020 (from 2005). Considering, inter alia, these targets, HKC has set the fuel mix for electricity generation in 2020, under which: (a) the percentage of local gas generation will increase to around 50% of the total fuel mix; (b) nuclear imports will account for around 25%; (c) the development of renewable energy and energy saving will be further promoted in HKC; and (d) the remaining demand for electricity will be met by coal-fired generation.

Table A3.3 Regime of standards and technical requirements, 2017
Ordinance/Regulation Summary of the legislation Changes since 1 January 2014
Environmental protection
Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) To provide for the control of air pollution from stationary sources and motor vehicles.
The import, transhipment, supply, and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials is now banned. The Ordinance was amended in April 2014 to further protect public health by tightening the asbestos control, starting from 4 April 2014
Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations (Cap. 311I) To prohibit the use of high sulphur content solid and liquid fuel (sulphur content shall not exceed 1% by weight for conventional solid fuels and 0.005% by weight for liquid fuels) for commercial and industrial appliances, and require the use of gaseous fuel in certain areas of the territory. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emissions) Regulations (Cap. 311J) To set out the emissions standards for vehicles. Newly registered vehicles shall comply with the latest EU or the equivalent U.S. or Japanese emissions standards. The Regulations were amended in 2017 to progressively tighten the emissions standards for specified classes of newly registered vehicles, in phases starting from 1 July 2017
Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation (Cap. 311L) To set out the specifications of motor vehicle fuel to be used in motor vehicles, and prohibit the sale of leaded petrol. The statutory specifications of motor vehicle diesel and unleaded petrol are pitched at Euro V standards. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Emission Reduction Devices for Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 311U) To require scheduled vehicles to be installed with approved emissions reduction devices.
Under the Regulation, the Director of Environmental Protection shall maintain a register of all approved emissions reduction devices. The Director of Environmental Protection may include in the register an emissions reduction device only if he is satisfied that the device can reduce the emissions of air pollutants from a motor vehicle in a manner and to an extent satisfactory to him, and it is suitable for installation on a motor vehicle. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Dry-Cleaning Machines) (Vapour Recovery) Regulation (Cap. 311T) To control the emission of perchloroethylene (PCE) from the dry-cleaning industry through the imposition of PCE emission standards on dry-cleaning machines in use.
Specifically, the concentration of PCE inside the drum of dry-cleaning machines must not exceed 300 ppmv at the end of the drying cycle. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Petrol Filling Stations) (Vapour Recovery) Regulation (Cap. 311S) Petrol storage tanks and petrol dispensers of petrol filling stations and petrol delivery vehicles are required to be installed with vapour recovery systems. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation (Cap. 311W) Import and local manufacture of regulated VOC-containing products for local sale and use is allowed only if their VOC contents meet the prescribed standards. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Air Pollutant Emission) (Controlled Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 311X) To phase out pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles, including goods vehicles, light buses and non-franchised buses, by 2020, and to limit the service life of diesel commercial vehicles first registered on or after 1 February 2014 to 15 years. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation (Cap. 311Y) To provide for the specifications for marine light diesel supplied in HKC. Specifically, the sulphur content shall not exceed 0.05% by weight. Nil
Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) Regulation (Cap. 311Z) To control the emissions of non-road mobile machinery (NRMMs) through regulating the sale, lease and use of NRMMs. The Regulation came into effect on 1 June 2015
Air Pollution Control (Ocean-Going Vessels) (Fuel at berth) Regulation (Cap. 311AA) To mandate ocean-going vessels (OGVs) to switch to low sulphur fuel (with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.5%) while at berth in HKC. The Regulation came into effect on 1 July 2015
Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (Cap. 403) To comply with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. Nil
Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants) Regulation (Cap. 403B) To prohibit any intended release of controlled refrigerants from motor vehicle air-conditioners or refrigeration equipment containing more than 50 kg of refrigerant to charge into the atmosphere, and to conserve the controlled refrigerants through the use of approved recycling and recovery equipment. Nil
Ozone Layer Protection (Products Containing Scheduled Substances) (Import Banning) Regulation (Cap. 403C) To prohibit the import from all countries of products containing ozone-depleting substances listed in the Schedule to the Ordinance. Nil
Noise Control (Air Compressors) Regulations (Cap. 400C) To stipulate noise emission standards for certain portable air compressors. Nil
Noise Control (Hand Held Percussive Breakers) Regulations (Cap. 400D) To stipulate prescribed noise emission standards for certain hand-held percussive breakers. Nil
Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 400I) To stipulate noise emission standards, as prescribed in the Schedule, for motor vehicles, including motorcycles, to comply with their first registration. Nil
(...)
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598) To require local manufacturers or importers of the prescribed products to submit specified information and documentation for the assignment of reference numbers, and to attach energy labels before supplying these products in HKC. The scope was expanded to cover televisions, storage type electric water heaters and induction cookers; and the coverage of room air conditioners, and of washing machines of a washing capacity from not exceeding 7 kg to not exceeding 10 kg, was extended to include the heating function.

The Societal Challenges Division focuses on improving productivity through technological innovation in the public sector and social organizations. This division is also responsible for R&D aimed at dealing with social and environmental challenges,

With the aim of responding to increasing global environmental challenges and the water shortage in Israel, the Government continued "Israel NewTech" national program, focused on water and renewable energy technologies respectively. This pioneering national program is led by the Ministry of Economy and Industry, and is supported by a number of additional government agencies. Israel NewTech helps to advance the water and sustainable energy sectors by supporting academia and research, encouraging implementation of novel solutions in the local market, and promoting those solutions in the international arena.

Israel's trade policy objectives are as follows: (1) Continued integration of the Israeli economy into the global trading system, through the use of policy instruments that relate to (…) environment (…)

Unfortunately, some of the plurilateral initiatives Israel also took part in have failed to materialize, notwithstanding the intensive work by all participants. These plurilateral initiatives include (…) the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). (…) EGA seeks to eliminate tariffs on a number of important environment-related products with the objective of helping to achieve environmental and climate protection goals. The benefits of a potential EGA would be extended to the entire WTO membership, which show how some plurilateral initiatives can have an effect on a multilateral level. At the moment the future of these initiatives remains uncertain, but Israel remains open and willing to continue working towards their conclusion.

Israel maintains export licensing and approval (permit) schemes for selected products for reasons such as commitments under international agreements, (…) and conservation, but there are no export taxes or levies. (…)

During the review period, Israel eliminated six programmes that had been notified to the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures: (…) the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programme. (…)

(…) With an arid climate, irrigation is essential for production in many areas although most water for irrigation is not fresh but treated waste water or saline water. (…)