After being briefed at the Executive Yuan Council meeting July 5 by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on the ROC delegation's participation in the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development June 20-22, Premier Sean Chen praised the delegation for helping other nations understand Taiwan's green economy and sustainable development efforts through both bilateral and multilateral exchanges.
"Our nation is already promoting green industry, and it should focus on expanding the scope of the green economy going forward," Chen said. His administration will ask the EPA to deliver a special report at the National Council for Sustainable Development and to call relevant ministries together to jointly examine the nation's sustainable development policies and direction.
Although the anticipated establishment of a World Environment Organization (WEO) did not come to pass at the conference, the United Nations Environment Programme will expand its concept of universal membership. Hence, Premier Chen directed relevant ministries to be on the lookout for opportunities to participate in international activities, as international cooperation would strengthen the basis for domestic sustainable development policy.
The EPA noted that the conference's conclusions focused on two major themes—the green economy and the institutional framework for sustainable development—and seven key issues: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
Attending nations reached a consensus on enhancing disaster resilience, and Taiwan must upgrade its disaster prevention and relief infrastructure and improve efficiency and safety in order to strengthen its cities' recovery capabilities, the EPA emphasized. For example, based on the earthquake relief experience and suggestions Japan shared at the conference, the ROC government could consider bettering its national disaster relief system by improving the delegation of power to regional governments and local residents' groups and increasing their responsibility and ability to offer disaster relief.