Amid the growing impacts of climate change, Taiwan experienced several major natural disasters in 2024, including the Hualien Earthquake on April 3, Typhoons Gaemi, Krathon, Kong-rey, and Usagi. In response to these successive disasters, local governments and relevant agencies responded swiftly, demonstrating effective disaster response and environmental recovery capabilities. These efforts ensured that citizens could quickly return to normal life, showcasing Taiwan’s resilience in facing extreme climate events.

Director-General Yen Hsu-Ming of the Environmental Management Administration (EMA) of the Ministry of Environment stated that traditional disaster response drills in the past did not include environmental recovery and mutual support coordination. There is an urgent need to establish a framework and model for mutual assistance. Therefore, EMA has implemented refined measures such as setting up procedures for resource, manpower, and equipment dispatch, readiness checks, tabletop drills, and live field exercises. These efforts ensure that both assisting and assisted municipalities become familiar with response protocols and improve overall disaster response effectiveness.

During disaster response efforts, the Ministry of Environment actively supported affected municipalities in recovery and reconstruction, coordinating with Hsinchu City, New Taipei City, Tainan City, Taichung City, Chiayi County, and Kaohsiung City to dispatch equipment to disaster-stricken areas. Through inter-municipal cooperation, post-disaster waste removal, environmental disinfection, and recovery operations were carried out swiftly to safeguard public health and minimize long-term disaster impacts.

To share these valuable experiences, the EMA held the “2024 Disaster Response and Post-Disaster Environmental Recovery Experience Sharing Conference” on March 18, 2025. The event brought together local environmental protection agencies to exchange disaster response strategies and recovery experiences. Through this experience sharing, the goal is to enhance the efficiency of future disaster responses and environmental restoration.

With this conference, local governments can learn from each other's successful experiences, refine their emergency and recovery mechanisms, and improve disaster resilience. Moving forward, the Ministry of Environment will continue working closely with local governments to enhance environmental management capabilities under extreme climate conditions through experience accumulation and system optimization, ensuring a safe and healthy living environment for all.