Economic recovery brought environmental costs to Macau

Local authorities attributed the environmental consequences in Macau last year to the economic recovery and the high influx of visitors.

According to the latest report on the state of the environment in Macau for 2024, published Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), most critical environmental indicators worsened compared to last year, with several having declined consistently for several years.

“In 2024, with the economic recovery underway, greater pressure was observed on various environmental indicators, while climate change became more severe,” DSPA director Ip Kuong Lam wrote in the preface of the 2024 report.

The report stated, regarding the current situation, that “economic and population growth led to an increase in estimated local greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, electricity consumption, and the amount of municipal solid waste compared to 2023.”

While water and electricity consumption rose by 5.6% and 5.1%, respectively, the DSPA did not explain how the influx of more visitors directly impacted local greenhouse gas emissions.

Solid waste also increased by 5.1% year over year compared to 2023, while the number of visitors grew by 23.8%.

Given the tremendous pressure caused by tourism on the local environment, the report suggests the development of a “green economy, circular economy, and innovative technologies to accelerate the green transition and form a new driving force for urban development.”

The report also notes that current trends in environmental indicators mirror a return to the pre-pandemic situation, following a pattern similar to economic indicators but in reverse.

Impacts of climate change strongly felt

The DSPA report notes that, due to global warming, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent.

In 2024, high temperatures, tropical storms, and heavy rainfall in Macau reached record levels. The average temperature in 2024 was 23.6 degrees Celsius, 0.8 degrees above the 30-year climate average (1991–2020).

This makes 2024 the hottest year on record, tied with 2019. There were 42 very hot days, 10.7 more than the 30-year average.
Additionally, there were 29 hot nights, 17.5 more than the climate average. On the other hand, there were 29 very cold days, a drop of 10.1 days compared to the same average.

In 2024, Macau was affected by seven tropical storms, with three occurring in November. According to the DSPA, this is the first time since records began that such a high number of tropical storms occurred so late in the year.

Total precipitation for the year was 2,029.2 millimeters, slightly higher than the 30-year average. Still, this marked a decrease compared to 2,176.8 millimeters in 2023.
According to data from the tide gauge station, between 1970 and 2024, the average annual sea level rise in Macau was approximately 3.5 millimeters.

GHG emissions rising post-pandemic but still below 2015 levels

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions shows that emissions have increased consecutively since 2021, more significantly since 2023. Still, levels – which had been declining since peaking in 2017 – remain below those recorded in 2015.

According to DSPA, the primary sources of GHG and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were, in descending order, land transport, local electricity production, waste incineration, trade, domestic consumption, and services.

The main sources of methane (CH4) emissions were landfilled waste and wastewater treatment, the latter also being the main source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
Total emissions grew 10.1% year over year, led by a 10.7% increase in CO2.

The biggest contributors to the rise in GHG were air transport (+43.2%), refueling (+33.7%), and local electricity production (+24.9%).

Air quality declined year over year

In 2024, the number of days with average air quality rated “good” (Index 0–50 under the WHO 2005 Air Quality Guidelines) rose from 172 in 2023 to 179 in 2024. Nonetheless, overall air quality slightly declined, as the number of “bad” air quality days (Index 101–200) rose from 15 to 23, and “very bad” days (Index 201–300) increased from 1 to 2.

Meanwhile, “moderate” days (Index 51–100) decreased from 178 in 2023 to 165 last year.
According to DSPA, the main pollutants detected were ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). At the Ká-Hó roadside monitoring station, the highest index recorded all year was 216, classified as “very bad,” with ozone as the main pollutant.

July had the best air quality, while October and December had the worst.

The report concludes that estimated emissions of most atmospheric pollutants rose compared to 2023, except for carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and lead (Pb).
Air transport emissions increased significantly, due to more aircraft landings and takeoffs.
Estimated emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) also rose sharply, mainly due to increased imports of related products.

“In terms of emission sources, the primary sources of various suspended particulate matter (SPM, PM10, and PM2.5) were the construction sector and land and sea transport, accounting for around 70% of emissions.”

Likewise, maritime and land transport, waste incineration, and construction were the main sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, each contributing about 20%.

Noisy environment

DSPA noted that noise pollution levels in 2024 were similar to those in 2023, except at the metering station at Rua Cidade de Braga in NAPE, which recorded a significant decrease.
Across six metering stations, the average continuous 24-hour noise level was 65.88 dB(A), classified as “moderate to loud.”

The quietest area was Areia Preta at 61.6 dB(A), while the loudest was Avenida de Horta e Costa, at 71.7 dB(A).

Despite similar noise levels overall, the total number of noise complaints rose by 4.3% to 10,987. The majority (4,874 complaints) were due to “loud conversation and shouting,” which rose by 14.5%.

Complaints related to “construction works” saw the largest increase, rising 32.7%.

No solutions proposed

Although the DSPA report identifies multiple environmental problems and trends, it does not offer specific policy recommendations or mitigation measures.

Instead, the report expresses hope that it “can serve as a bridge to promote the actions taken by society, encouraging greater participation by the population in environmental initiatives and jointly realizing the vision of building a low-carbon Macau.”

The report also points to a decline in government investment in environmental protection.
“In 2024, the Macau SAR government’s public expenditure on ‘Environmental Protection’ amounted to approximately MOP1.9 billion, representing 2% of total public spending, a decrease compared to the previous year.”