Going big and going green can work together for Hong Kong mega-events

Hong Kong’s mega-event economy is thriving. In a blog post last month, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po noted that in the first half of 2026, the city hosted more than 130 mega-events, drawing 1.75 million visitors and injecting roughly HK$5.8 billion (US$739.9 million) into the local economy.These figures are the ongoing dividends of the government’s sustained policy and financial backing. This momentum is well-documented: in the last two years, the concerts of global A-listers such as Coldplay and Blackpink drew hundreds of thousands of fans and generated millions of dollars in ticket sales, while the 2025 Hong Kong Sevens delivered a HK$768 million boost.While sold-out stadiums and economic gains capture the headlines, a lesser-known aspect of these mega-events is their commitment to environmental sustainability.By introducing features such as a recycling leaderboard, Coldplay made going green fun, boosting LED wristband return rates to an impressive 94 per cent in Hong Kong and reducing their global tour emissions by 59 per cent compared to their previous tour.These efforts reflect a shift across the event sector. Blackpink’s management company, YG Entertainment, introduced event-level carbon tracking, ensuring their 2026 Hong Kong concert conducted rigorous carbon accounting. The 2024 Paris Olympics halved its carbon footprint compared to previous Games.As consumers and businesses increasingly value sustainability and extreme weather becomes more commonplace, greening Hong Kong’s mega-event economy should no longer be optional. A report by Our Hong Kong Foundation estimates that greening our mega-events could bring around HK$1 billion annually – all while reducing emissions.