An agreement on Taiwan-US environmental technology cooperation was signed in 1993. To celebrate 30 years of bilateral cooperation, the EPA held a retrospective and forward-looking event on 21 August at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, and invited past and current partners to participate. The event highlighted the stages and changes in Taiwan-US exchange and cooperation, providing insights into the evolution of environmental challenges so that participants were able to discover the power of partnership and collaboration.
In her opening address, Taiwan EPA Deputy Minister Wang Ya-fen first expressed gratitude to Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida of the US EPA for her steadfast support of the Taiwan-US environmental cooperation. Deputy Minister Wang also extended her thanks to all the organizations and personnel who participated in this cooperation over the past 30 years, including government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, the Ocean Conservation Administration, the Health Promotion Administration, as well as academic institutions and civil organizations that had jointly promoted cooperation within the framework of the agreement. In addition, she welcomed partner countries in attendance to join the international environmental partnership network and collectively dedicate efforts to address complex environmental issues.
Deputy Minister Wang expressed that a lasting friendship, one that shoulders responsibilities together, requires goodwill, trust, and commitment. She believed that after the establishment of the Ministry of Environment, Taiwan-US environmental cooperation would continue to deepen and both sides would work hand-in-hand to make more breakthroughs and accomplishments in the fields of environmental technology, environmental governance, and sustainable development, as more milestones are created into the future.
In her speech, US EPA Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida shared the background and details of the 30-year cooperation. She expressed admiration for Taiwan's contributions, leadership, and the achievements of the collaborative partners. She emphasized that as 30 years of cooperation and the achievements of the International Environmental Partnership (IEP) Program are celebrated, what is even more important is the firm partnership between Taiwan and the United States. She believed that this partnership not only makes Taiwan's role in global environmental leadership more distinct but also enables the implementation of deeper collaboration in critical environmental sustainability issues such as climate change, climate resilience, environmental health, and youth engagement, as the two nations jointly work toward a better and more sustainable Earth.
Through videos and exhibits, the event looked back on 30 years of significant environmental exchanges between Taiwan and the United States. It showcased the growth trajectory of the Taiwan EPA, evolving from a beginner who learned environmental technology and management policies to a regional contributor. This journey included the implementation of the IEP Program in 2014, which led to various projects such as the Taiwan-US Eco-Schools, Global Environmental Education Partners (GEEP), International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN), and Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network (APMMN). Officials and experts from various participating countries in these networks also expressed through video messages their gratitude for the Taiwan-US cooperation in creating regional environmental capacity.
In the future, more exchange and cooperation projects will continue to be promoted within the frameworks of the Taiwan-U.S. environmental technology cooperation and the IEP programs. International partners are welcomed to join hands, discover the power of collaboration, and together create more possibilities, moving towards a clean, zero-emission, and sustainable future.
Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, August 2023
- Source:
- Ministry of Environment
- Updated:
- 2023-12-07
- Hit:
- 3623