Today, on August 22, 2023, the National Environmental Research Academy (NERA) is officially inaugurated. The NERA is a national-level research institute that was formed as the result of a merger of the Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) and the Environmental Professionals Training Institute (EPTI). This marks a significant milestone in the organizational restructuring of the Ministry of Environment.

The National Environmental Research Academy is composed of one division and five centers, each with its own distinct missions:

One Division:

Planning and Research Division: This division is tasked with executing and promoting international exchanges and cooperation. Its goal is to establish an international research cooperation platform.

Five Centers:

Climate Change Research Center: This center focuses on deepening climate change technology research and creating resilient adaptation strategies.

Environmental Governance Research Center: The center aims to strengthen the integration of technology and policy for enhanced environmental quality. It also develops technologies for environmental risk assessment and governance.

Testing Technology Center: This center is dedicated to advancing technological research and development. It aims to bolster the capabilities of national environmental laboratories to support environmental protection policies.

Testing and Certification Center: This center promotes environmental technology verification, and it strives to enhance testing management efficiency and achieve international multilateral accreditation.

Environmental Education and Certification Center: The center offers diverse training for environmental professionals, fostering environmental and net-zero talents. It also aims to enhance the quality of environmental education and certification.

These centers collectively work towards the institute's goal of advancing environmental science, research, and education while promoting sustainable development.

In addition to continuing the development of testing and identification technologies and nurturing environmental professionals, the NERA is introducing several new initiatives as follows:

Climate Change Research Center: This newly established center aims to connect scientific research outcomes with the implementation of climate change adaptation strategies, addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

Environmental Governance Research Center: Another new center, this one will focus on developing environmental risk assessment and governance technologies to support environmental protection policies and related efforts.

Furthermore, the NERA is set to establish a greenhouse gas verification and certification system, expanding verification capacity. It will also create certification systems for instruments, equipment, and pollution prevention technologies to assist the environmental protection industry in accessing international markets. These new initiatives will require an additional budget increase of approximately NT$ 150 million for the fiscal year 2024.

The establishment of the NERA represents a small step for the Ministry of Environment but a significant stride toward Taiwan's environmental sustainability. With more than three decases of scientific testing and professional talent

development, the NERA will now take on the vital task of environmental scientific research.

Looking ahead, the NERA is committed to addressing major pollution cases through advanced scientific investigation techniques. It will expand pollution prevention technology certification to tap into international markets. Additionally, the NERA will enhance education and training initiatives to cultivate a proactive environmental protection mindset. With goals to achieve net zero emissions through greenhouse gas verification and certification, the NERA will also bolster international cooperation and exchanges.

The NERA's aspiration is to create a unique environmental think tank that is deeply rooted in Taiwan while being globally aligned and forward-looking. It seeks to integrate Taiwan's distinct characteristics into its operations and contribute to both domestic and international environmental efforts.