After listening to the Council for Economic Planning and Development's (CEPD) report on the national policy framework for adaptation to climate change, Premier Sean Chen asked government agencies to periodically assess the risk of climate change in Taiwan and use rolling reviews to revise coping strategies.
The policy framework listed eight major spheres that would be severely affected by climate change and proposed response strategies, which include policy mechanisms and support measures to put these plans into action.
The premier said the framework was comprehensive and would serve as the guidelines for government climate change adaptation policies. He requested that every agency implement its action plan in accordance with the framework while using a phased approach of planning, execution and control. He also asked the CEPD to continue informing the public about the program and spur citizen participation.
The premier also noted that the framework's two major strategies, mitigation and adaptation, have been a focal point of international response to climate change in recent years. For instance, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was named co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its contributions in these areas.
Chen also expressed hope that Environmental Protection Administration Minister Stephen Shu-hung Shen will learn from other countries' experiences when he attends the APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for the Environment in Russia July 16-18 and come up with a road map for adjustments upon his return.
Concerning the CEPD's proposal of setting up an independent climate change commission, Premier Chen directed relevant government agencies to study the feasibility of merging such a commission with the National Council for Sustainable Development.
The CEPD pointed out that since the impact of climate change is so extensive, in addition to adjustment strategies for individual fields, complementary measures regarding R&D, education and citizen participation are also necessary.
Promoting the national policy framework for adaptation to climate change means responding proactively to challenges, developing sustainable strategies and turning the situation into an opportunity to give Taiwan a competitive edge, the CEPD reiterated. It said that in the future, aside from responding and adapting to the impact of climate change, the government will also actively promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and advance the vision of Taiwan as a low-carbon economy and society.