The EPA held the 2019 photo contest of “Embrace the Environment and Explore Air Quality” as part of the Environment Info Push app. The event ran from 22 April to 5 June and received 220 submissions. After an online vote, the EPA announced the results of the contest on 15 July, with 3 finalists and 19 honorable mentions chosen by popular demand.

This event had approximately 80% of its photos taken in Taiwan’s six metropolitan areas, including Taipei City, New Taipei City and Taichung City. Some hot spots that were photographed featured Taipei 101, Bihu Park, and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taipei City, the Sunshine Bridge (New Taipei City), Qingshui Geothermal Park (Yilan County), Nanliao Fishing Harbor (Hsinchu County), Xiluo Bridge (Yunlin County), Calligraphy Greenway (Taichung City), and 85 Sky Tower (Kaohsiung City). Participants captured the unique, underlying beauty of the environment through photo compositions that included the sky. The photos were done in such a way to invoke a deep feeling and desire to protect the environment. 

The EPA notes that the Environment Info Push app has been downloaded over 500,000 people-times and garnered an average rating of four stars. Besides this contest, which used the “air quality mood” function for participants to share their environmental photos, the EPA will continue optimizing the services available via the app to provide even more features. The EPA hopes the Environment Info Push app will be an invaluable assistant for people in their everyday lives. It can be downloaded through Google Play or the Apple Store.

Excerpt from Environmental Policy Monthly, 22 (8)