Taiwan would continue to work with international partners to foster a sustainable ocean environment and ensure the implementation of the a zero emissions policy, Oceans Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) told an international forum yesterday.
Kuan commented via video as she was expected to attend a meeting at the Legislative Yuan.
Since the International Ocean Forum began in 2019, its consistent focus on globally pertinent maritime issues has made it an important platform for industries and governments in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues with international experts, Kuan said.
Photo: Wang Chun-chung, Taipei Times
This year’s forum began yesterday at the Shangri-la Far Eastern Hotel, the first time the event has been held outside Taipei since 2019.
The forum is focused on climate change, “blue carbon” — referring to the amount of carbon dioxide stored in marine and coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves — and biodiversity.
The Presidential Office’s National Climate Change Committee, established this year, hopes to facilitate collaboration between Taiwan and overseas organizations on global and local actions on climate change, Kuan said.
The Ocean Affairs Council in the past few years pushed for passage of the Marine Conservation Act (海洋保育法) and amendments to the Marine Pollution Control Act (海洋污染防治法), as well as creating the Marine Pollution Prevention Fund to protect Taiwan’s blue carbon sites and marine environment, she said.
The Marine Conservation Act passed its third reading at the Legislative Yuan on July 12 and its promulgation awaits a final decision from the Executive Yuan.
“We hope the sea will become a bridge to connect like-minded partners instead of a barrier setting us apart,” Kuan said.
Tainan Deputy Mayor Yeh Tse-shan (葉澤山) told the forum that over the past two centuries, Tainan has become the city with the most wetlands in Taiwan, including the internationally renowned Zengwen River (曾文溪) wetlands, the Sicao (四草) wetlands and six other national wetland parks.
The forum’s research would significantly facilitate the Tainan City Government’s efforts to enact its marine policies, Yeh said.
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