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Published: August 30, 2002
Our vision for Taiwan: sustainable, green, invigorated, rapid, excellent, attractive!
I. Sustainable Development in Taiwan: Progressing Alongside the World's Trend
Over the past decades, an economic miracle has been created on 36,000 square kilometers of land containing 23 million people with an annual per capita income of US$13,000. A political miracle was also created with a flourishing democratic system in which its citizens actively participate. Yet all this progress was reached at the cost of the natural environment.
Taiwan therefore holds a vision for sustainable development: an island nation that equally emphasizes environmental protection, economic development, and social justice. In other words, Taiwan wants to create a knowledgeable new economy, a democratic new society, and a sustainable new environment, giving Formosa new vitality, excellence, and attractive qualities.
Taiwan's population is growing slowly and steadily. Its citizens are adopting sustainable practices in their homes and communities. The national health insurance gives them good health and high quality of life. Taiwan now incorporates environmental considerations in its development and policy-making process.
Taiwan protects the ozone layer, abides by the Montreal Protocol, conserves marine resources and protects the ecosystem, promotes sustainable development in the mountain villages, and manages hazardous wastes. Taiwan also endeavors to integrate the concept of sustainable development into people's daily lives and the teachings in the schools, combining the resources of the government, the private sector, and the educational system for the goal of sustainable development.
The Taiwan Agenda 21 serves as a strategic guide for sustainable development efforts. Following the example of advanced countries around the world, Taiwan has also set up the National Council for Sustainable Development, which is led by the Premier, to cover all sectors of the country. Moreover, based on the principle of sustainable development, the Challenge 2008 National Development Plan was launched this year. The plan includes technology innovations, sustainable communities, natural resource protection, human resource development, medical care, renewable energies, cultural innovations, and international exchanges. With citizens participating in this plan, the first decade of the 21st century will be grounded in sustainable development.
Despite its limited resource, Taiwan endeavors to aid third-world countries to be more sustainable through agricultural technology teams and international cooperation. Taiwan will continue to abide by Agenda 21 and transfer environmentally friendly technologies to developing nations. Within the framework of international laws and legal framework, Taiwan will fulfill her responsibility as an inhabitant of the global village.
II. Raising the Vitality of Taiwan's People
Taiwan is economically prosperous with abundant human resource and low crime rate. Its people are well-off, educated, and hardworking. The concept of sustainable development can be applied in many areas, including raising the effectiveness of major organizations, women's participation in politics, gender equality, protection and welfare of children and youths, the rights of the native aborigines, partnership with non-governmental organizations, delegation of responsibility among local governments, institutionalization of laborers and labor unions, relationship between business, agricultural, and technology sectors, and participation by agricultural organizations. Progress has been made in all these areas.
In the area of Biodiversity Action Plan, 64 projects were developed. They are now jointly executed by 16 government agencies and NGOs, aiming at sustainable utilization of biological resources and participation in regional and global efforts to promote biodiversity.
In the wake of the September 21 earthquake in 1999, life continues after much pain and suffering. But Taiwan also witnessed the powerful force created by the charity of its citizens.
III. Taiwan's Road to Sustainable Development: On Display For the World to See
After creating the world-famous economic miracle and political miracle, Taiwan is now on its way to creating a sustainable, environmental conservation miracle. The small area of Taiwan notwithstanding, the experience Taiwan has had in striving for a balance between the environment and development serves as a prototype for countries around the world to observe and learn from. In this symbolic display window of the world, Taiwan shares the same vision as that of other nations. Its endeavor to strengthen the sustainable development mechanism, build sustainable green communities and cities, execute policies for sustainable industries, energies, transport, technologies is the same as the world's endeavor in these areas. Taiwan comes to the World Summit in South Africa to learn about the challenges, experience, and future approaches in the post-Rio decade. Her mission and goal are simple and the same as those of other nations.
IV. Taiwan Request Equal Treatment and Participation
As a member of the global village, Taiwan wants to do its part to protect the earth's natural resources. Despite not being a signatory member of international conservation organizations, for the sake of international conservation, Taiwan sponsored 53 international conservation projects between 1996 and 2001, including an anti-poaching project in Africa, protection of the Black-faced Spoonbill project in Asia, a tiger protection workshops in Thailand and Nepal, the reintroduction of scimitar-horn oryx in Senegal, and a support plan for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Washington Convention, among others. Taiwan will continue to formulate policies and draft laws in accordance with international conventions, participate in environmental activities through academic exchanges and NGOs so as to gain international recognition. To fulfill its environmental responsibility, Taiwan will actively promote trade and environmental protection among international organizations and participate in international environmental efforts. Yet due to the current political situation, Taiwan has been excluded from international environmental forums simply because Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations. Taiwan voices the desire to contribute to the global conservation efforts, and asks those who can hear her voice to help make her wish come true. Taiwan wishes to participate in international environmental treaties so it can fulfill its responsibility as one of the earth's inhabitants.
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