The EPAs Bureau of Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau (TCSB) and the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 13 Oct. 2022, represented by the TCSB Director Yen-Ju Hsieh and the NCDR Director Hung-Yu Chen, respectively. From now on, both sides will have more engagements, jointly integrating information of prevention and rescues for disasters relating to toxic and concerned chemical substances. Other tasks include sharing information on disaster response and selecting specific issues for further coordination in technological research, development, and applications.

The EPA noted that the NCDR has a team consisting of Taiwan’s top professionals with technological research and development knowhow in disaster prevention and rescues. Its MOUs with relevant central agencies have equipped it with technological resources and platforms related to disaster warnings, image data, and researches. Under the principles of collaboration, mutual benefits, and resource sharing, the MOU aims to enhance Taiwan’s capacities in prevention, responses, and rescues for disasters relating to toxic and concerned chemical substances. Both will join hands in promoting research, development, and application of relevant technologies.

The MOU is divided into five areas: promotion and professional consultation on technological research, development, and applications; establishment of an information and image database; events on research, development, and applications; establishment and maintenance of disaster information modules; and technological research and development on specific issues. The collaboration is expected to better safeguard human lives by improving Taiwan’s technologies on disaster prevention and rescues, integrating response information, and reducing domestic disaster risks.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, November 2022