Presiding over the National Council for Sustainable Development, Chen Chien-Jen, President of the Executive Yuan: Continuously Promoting 12 Key Strategies, Food Bank Policy to Proactively Achieve Sustainable Development
On August 15, Chen Chien-Jen, Premier of the Executive Yuan, presided over the 35th meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD). He pointed out that to ensure the implementation of sustainable development and render determination for transformation, the government has integrated the goals of 2050 Net-Zero Emissions in the Climate Change Response Act. Various departments will launch measures based on the statute, such as collection of carbon fee, and establishment of Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange. Furthermore, via the 12 Key Strategies, the government will continuously promote, follow up, manage, and evaluate these measures, assisting supply chains and Taiwanese in general in achieving sustainable development. Meanwhile, to help financially disadvantaged households afford basic necessities, Chen also asked Cheng Wen-Tsan, the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan, to convene a meeting to integrate cross-departmental resources to strengthen and promote the food bank policy with an aim of saving food, alleviating poverty and disaster prevention. These measures are promoted in hope that Taiwan can make progress on sustainable development and become a paradigm in the Asian region and the world.
Chen said in his speech that civilian members of the NCSD are social, economic, and environmental experts. He extended gratitude toward them for their contribution to the sustainable development of Taiwan. In the coming two years of their term, they have to partake and work together, so that Taiwan can become an exemplar of sustainable development for the Asian region and the world.
Chen pointed out that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to resolve environmental, economic, and social issues the world is facing by offering concrete solutions. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations (UN), it is incumbent upon us to also adopt a sustainable development mindset that advocates peace, safety, prosperity, and justice, and take up on responsibilities of a global citizen. As such, Taiwan must proactively integrate sustainable development into its policy making and align with world standards.
Chen pointed out that as global warming deteriorates, many international organizations are calling for countries to accelerate their climate actions by adopting carbon reduction and adaptation solutions. These solutions can therefore exert influence on more collaboration efforts. The Climate Change Response Act, a domestic law, will be able to elevate the level of climate governance to the NCSD. The NCSD will take on the collaboration and integration of basic and major policies on climate change. More regulation on adaption can thus be added so that climate change policies can become more comprehensive. Chen said that the government has integrated the goals of 2050 Net-Zero Emissions in the Climate Change Response Act in February 2023, rendering Taiwan’s determination for transformation. Going forward, different government agencies will roll out many measures, including collecting carbon fee and establishing the Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange. Moreover, via the 12 Key Strategies, the government will continuously promote, follow up, manage, and evaluate these measures, assisting supply chains and Taiwanese in general in achieving sustainable development.
Chen stressed that the concurrence of the pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical crises has already obstructed global sustainable development efforts. President Tsai Ing-Wen also directed the government to strengthen the social security system to foster a resilient country. As such, in the post-pandemic and high inflation era, care for the underprivileged, especially their basic living needs, is very important indeed. In recent years, the central and local governments have been joining hands and collaborating with society to promote the food bank policy, taking a proactive stance in caring for the underprivileged. A special budget is allocated to expand the subsidy for food bank, which is helpful in realizing the goals of sustainable development.
Later on, following a report on the National Climate Change Action Guideline made by the Task Force on Climate Change and Net-Zero Emissions Transition, Chen said that in the face of severe impacts of global climate change, the Environmental Protection Administration (now Ministry of Environment, MOE) has taken into consideration the international trend of net-zero emissions, Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions by 2050, and action plans of the key strategies, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, Paragraph 2 of the Climate Change Response Act, reviewed and revised the draft amendment to the National Climate Change Action Guideline. Furthermore, it has also carried out cross-departmental coordination and integration through the NCSD mechanism and planned important policy guidelines for Taiwan’s climate change adaptation and GHG reduction.
Chen thanked council members for offering their precious opinions on the draft amendment, and asked the MOE to consider the opinions of council members on the amendment to the guideline. Departments responsible for implementing GHG reduction and climate change adaptation policies and projects should consider the recommendations made by council members today, in hopes of gradually strengthening Taiwan’s ability to adapt to climate change. Meanwhile, apart from the existing 2030 goals in the current stage, Chen also asked various departments to contemplate whether it is necessary to formulate additional yearly goals and evaluate improvements each year to ensure sustainable development in Taiwan.
Pertaining to a report on the implementation of food bank made by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), Chen indicated that to help households in poor economic conditions maintain basic livelihood needs, the MOHW should combine resources of public and private sectors, including special municipality and county (city) governments and non-government organizations, to continue implementing in-kind benefits (food bank) and ensure that citizens are all able to obtain sufficient food with balanced nutrition.
Chen pointed out that during his term as the mayor of Taoyuan, Vice Premier Cheng spared no effort in implementing the food bank policy and the results were remarkable. Chen asked Cheng to call together the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of the Interior, Financial Supervisory Commission, and the MOHW to jointly discuss and integrate resources of the relevant departments, and step up the promotion of the food bank policy, in order to save food, alleviate poverty, and prevent disasters. Results should be reported during the next meeting.
Meanwhile, pertaining to the progress report on the 12 Key Strategies for net-zero emissions made by the Task Force on Climate Change and Net-Zero Emissions Transition, Chen pointed out that the 12 Key Strategies had been approved in April 2023 and are well looked forward to by society at large. To focus on related policies and allow subsequent work to be smoothly carried out, Chen asked the Secretariat of the NCSD to review the opinions of council members again, and responsible departments to provide a formal response in writing to opinions involving policy, systems, legal affairs, and execution. Chen also asked the related departments to engage in more in-depth discussions with council members through related work meetings and communicate with society so as to improve policy making.