Mayor Chang San-Cheng of Taoyuan City attended the Department of Environmental Protection’s “Air Pollution Prevention Result Presentation and Joint Award” on the afternoon of December 4. Mayor Chang thanked various private and many enterprises for their long-standing efforts to improve air quality in Taoyuan, Taiwan’s most significant industrial city. He highlighted that due to the city government’s proactive implementation of various air quality improvement strategies, the number of days in Taoyuan with an Air Quality Index (AQI) below 100 has been increasing, demonstrating a sustained enhancement in the city’s air quality in recent years. Mayor Chang commended 43 outstanding units, including construction sites, religious organizations, factories, motorcycle dealerships, and public transportation companies, for their contributions to reducing air pollution and collaborating with the city government to execute air quality improvement strategies. He expressed his hope for joint efforts towards achieving “2050 Net Zero Emissions.”
Mayor Chang mentioned that Taoyuan joined the “Powering Past Coal Alliance” and officially announced its membership at the United Nations COP28 held in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in Taoyuan’s environmental governance. In March this year, the city government also introduced the roadmap for Taoyuan’s path towards achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050. He expressed the desire to work collaboratively with various sectors to continually enhance Taoyuan’s air quality, creating a livable environment with good mountains, good water, and good air for the next generation.
Regarding the rise of lung cancer as a major illness among Taiwanese, Mayor Chang highlighted the city’s efforts in expanding lung cancer screening programs. Apart from encouraging screenings for occupational exposure due to air pollution, priority for screening has been given to temple workers. He hoped that by facilitating early detection of lung cancer, residents would not only experience improved air quality but also lead better lives in Taoyuan.
Sources：Taoyuan City Goverment
