The nation is to inaugurate its first carbon rights trading center in Kaohsiung on Monday next week, Hsueh Fu-sheng (薛富盛), who is to lead the environment ministry when it launches later this month, said yesterday.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) is to be upgraded to a ministerial-level organization on Aug. 22 — part of a government restructuring to streamline administrative processes and promote efficiency.
Hsueh made the announcement at a handover ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Education for several new national university principals. That included Hsueh, who handed over his position as principal of National Chung Hsing University to Chan Fu-chih (詹富智).
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Hsueh said that universities foster a lot of talent who specialize in environmental issues and policies, and the new ministry would work closely with universities to help industries achieve net zero emissions, build a circular economy and promote renewable resources.
To encourage this, the new ministry would relax some regulations to create a better Taiwan, he said.
The new ministry would play a crucial role in Taiwan’s long-term environmental policy, with its climate change administration and circular resource administration assisting the nation in attaining its goal of net zero emissions by 2050, he said.
Meanwhile, the new ministry’s chemical management administration is to take over the duties of the Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau, while the environment management administration would oversee all affairs relating to air pollution and water quality, he said.
Analytical departments and talent training would be integrated into the National Environmental Research Institute, he added.
Hsueh said he looked forward to greater interaction with environmental conservation groups, adding that the diversity of opinions would allow the new ministry to better plan for the nation’s environment.
The new ministry would seek to balance the needs for environmental conservation and industrial development, he said, inviting the public to come together to foster an environmentally friendly place while supporting industrial development.
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