National Sustainable Development Strategy
 
Preface

Pursuing sustainable development is a major goal for Taiwan in the 21st century. Since the Republic of China (ROC) government relocated to Taiwan over half a century ago, it has created not only an outstanding economy, but also an open democratic society. Still, Taiwan faces many challenges on its way to achieve sustainable development. The major factors are:

(I) Unique island ecosystem

Taiwan's ecosystem is very fragile with many unique characteristics. The habitats of diverse forms of flora and fauna in Taiwan have been harmed by decades of rapid development. Forests, coastal and marine areas, rivers and wetlands are all under threat.

(II) Heavy Environmental Loadings

Population density, numbers of motor vehicles, abundance of factories and primary energy consumption in Taiwan are all ranked among the highest in the world. These factors cause heavy environmental loadings to Taiwan's environment. Though there is a current lack of public and private treatment facilities, the ROC government deeply realizes the need to treat municipal wastes, wastewater and industrial wastes in an environmentally sound manner.

(III) Limited Natural Resources

With the limited space, dense population, and a shortage of natural resources in place, the natural resources in Taiwan are sometimes overused. The imbalance of water shortage and supply on the island has also caused groundwater levels to decrease.

(IV) High Frequency of Natural Disasters

Taiwan is located on the eastern edge of the Asian continental shelf. Due to the complex nature of geology in this region, typhoons, flooding and earthquakes occur quite frequently.

(V) Roles in Global Economy

Taiwan is an active participant of the international community and relies heavily on international trading. Because the global business environments have become increasingly complex, the pressure for local businesses and resource consumption pattern in Taiwan to change has also increased tremendously.

It can be seen from the above descriptions that Taiwan is in a potential imbalance of overall economic development and environmental protection. The ability to solve this imbalance in a timely manner could be a turning point for improving Taiwan's sustainability. Thus, we must review the integration issues between economic development and environmental protection, focus on the integrated value of social development, and sketch out a real sustainable development blueprint for the future of Taiwan.

In June 1992, The Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nation held Earth Summit in Rio, Brazil. During the Conference, participants passed Rio Environment and Development Declaration and Agenda 21, signed The Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention of Biodiversity, which demonstrated the new thinking and efforts of mankind to pursue Sustainable Development. Agenda 21 calls for signatories to establish and implement sustainable development strategies and to promote international cooperation to increase welare of all peoples.

The Republic of China is determined to show its enthusiasm in responding to and achieving this goal. In this new millennium, the ability to reflect integrated environmental quality and environmental ability will become new indicators for national competitiveness. As a member of the global village, Taiwan will endeavor to participate in international activities, keep regional peace, promote cooperation and thus enjoy prosperity. In order to achieve the four goals of sustainable development in sustainable ecosystem, comfortable environment, safe society, and open economy, Taiwan will base its plan on the environmental characteristics and proceed with integrated planning and implementation to meet the goal of integrating economic development, social creativity, and environmental protection.

With the above considerations in mind, the Republic of China government follows the basic principles and visions of sustainable development, refers to documentations of other nations and United Nations, and concludes and integrates an Agenda 21- Guidelines for the National Sustainable Development Strategy, as the basic strategy and action guidelines of R.O.C government, which also reflects the global trends of the new era.

The Definition of Sustainable Development

In 1987, The Commission on Global Environment and Development of the United Nations published a report titled: Our Common Future. In this report, Sustainable Development was defined as: …can satisfy the demand of this generation, but does not harm the satisfactory needs of future generations. In 1992, the Earth Summit passed Agenda 21 which transferred the spirits of sustainable development into concrete action plans.

Visions of Sustainable Development

It is envisaged that the common visions contained within the guidelines for national sustainable development strategy are to be promoted by all people in Taiwan. Through sustainable consumption of resources, the harmony between environment and economic-social development can be maintained, and all generations to come can enjoy a sustainable ecosystem, a comfortable environment, a safe society, and an open economy.

I. Sustainable Ecosystem
In Taiwan, the available land resource is limited, but the varieties of plants and wildlife are plentiful. We should recognize the need of co-existence and co-prosperity with other species while pursuing our living necessities, by promoting education and the awareness of environmental protection. Humankind can be benefited from the care of mother earth, only by building a functional network of biodiversity on earth.

II. Comfortable EnvironmentPublic areas such as parks, parking lots, cultural areas, athletic fields, and medical centers, should all improve their services. Effective pollution control and ecosystem protection should also be implemented. Taiwan's reputation of Ihla Formosa--the beautiful island, may eventually be regained after successful implementation of these measures.

III. Social Safety
Reflections of a safe, harmonious society are: feeling safe with no fear, living without poverty and hardship, sufficient social welare, no health worries, and becoming more multi-cultural. An employment security system can enable workers who are willing and able to work to enjoy a certain protection to job security. All people, including those who are single, widowed, orphaned, senior citizens with no children, disabled, or sick, can all enjoy social care after a national social security system is in place. When an efficient medicare system and abundant cultural initiatives are established, the mental health of the people can also be improved. In the end, the people can live in a peaceful community and enjoy a safe and orderly environment.

IV. Open Economy
Upon joining the World Trade Organization, the domestic economic development in Taiwan should gear toward preparing the business sectors for open competition. We need to strengthen science and technology development, establish green production technology, stimulate high-tech manufacturing industry, and become an intelligent technology-island in East Asia. On one hand, marketing and trading should be fair. Both public and private sectors should provide services with the needs of customers in mind, and consumer's rights should be protected. On the other hand, with the help of the Internet, finance, insurance, telecommunication, transportation, legal services, and accounting services should be globalized. Efficiencies in these sectors should be promoted, in order to increase national competitiveness.

Basic Principles of Sustainable Development

In order to achieve the vision of sustainable development, the national strategy follows the following basic principles:

I. "Generation Fairness"
This generation has the responsibility to maintain and secure enough resources that can provide for the needs of future generations.

II. Environmental Loading
Social and economic development should not cause overloading to the environment.

III. Balanced Consideration
Environmental protection and economic development should be considered on an equal basis.

IV. Prior Precaution
Before commencement of any activities which can possibly cause significant and unavoidable damage toward the environment, environmental impact assessments should be implemented and efficient prevention measures adopted in advance, in order to minimize the damages.

V. Social Justice
Distribution of environmental, social and economic resources should meet the fair and equity principles.

VI. Public Participation
Decision making for sustainable development actions should be predicated on comments and expectations from people at every socio-economic level. The sustainable development policies should be formed after sufficient public participation and considerations.

VII. Cost Internalization
Based on the principles that the polluter has the responsibility to solve pollution problems and polluter/beneficiary pays, business sectors and society should internalize the external cost and reflect production cost rationally, through market mechanisms and economic tools.

VIII. Science and Technology Emphasis
The sustainable development strategies should be mapped out and the risks of these policies should be evaluated, based on the spirit and methodology of science. Technology innovation should be considered as the driving force for environmental protection and economic development.

IX. System Integration
Integrated consideration of eco-system should be taken before setting sustainable development strategy. Promotion of sustainable development policies also should be integrated into public and private sectors' efforts.

X. Global Participation
To be a member of the international community, we should learn from the experience of other industrialized nations. Regarding the establishment of environmental regulations, we should follow international moves, provide support to other developing nations, and set sustainable development as a priority.

The Integrated Strategy of Sustainable Development

In order to achieve the vision of national sustainable development, the strategy guidelines would follow the ten aforementioned principles which are divided into the following three categories: sustainable resources, sustainable society, and sustainable economy. The related subjects and focuses among the three categories will then be examined in later sections. In these guidelines, nine integrated strategies are presented, with the driving force of education, technology and information to provide the implementation motivation, and measures implemented through public participation, government reconstruction and international cooperation. These nine strategies are then sub-divided into five chapters, and twenty-two fields. Each individual field should fulfill its own intention.

  Nine Integrated Sustainable Development Strategies

(I) Creation of good environmental quality

Strengthen the management and monitoring of nature resources, including air, water, land, wildlife, marine areas and forests; build up an environment with a rich ecosystem and unique culture by conserving and fair allocation of natural resources; plan and implement landscaping and public facilities in a systematic manner.

(II) Creation of eco-balanced urban environment

Create an eco-balanced urban environment by considering the carrying capacity of the environment and the control of environmental loadings; prevent heat-island effect by promoting greening of urban environment measures. Promote the establishment of waste, air and water pollution emission treatment facilities, sewage and runoff separation and reclamation systems; implement urban water balance, soil and wastewater pollution cleanup tasks. Strengthen risk assessment of health and to adopt disaster prevention and emergency response measures; thereby providing citizens with a safe, healthy, and abundant living environment.

(III) Promotion of social welfare policies

Eliminate the gap between the poor and the rich people by promoting social welfare policies; and achieve the goals of social balance and justice by strengthening welfare initiatives for aboriginals and minority groups.

(IV) Adjustment of lifestyle and personal behavior modes

Promote a new way of lifestyle, emphasizing resource conservation in order to replace the lavish behavior; buildup a society accustomed to resource recycling; implement waste and resource recycle/reuse systems; and establish a plain and conservative livelihood.

(V) Promotion of risk management and proactive planning for economic development

Build up capacity of proactive planning; take ecology and biodiversity conservation into consideration ahead of promoting economic development; set aside environmental sensitivity areas, wildlife habitats, and undeveloped lands moderately, in order to keep ecosystems in balance.

(VI) Adjustment of energy polices and industrial structure, and building a cleaner production mechanism

Diversity the modes of energy usage; promote energy efficiency; research and develop clean energy sources; and stabilize the energy demand and provision. Increase use of renewable energies; promote low emissions and energy conserving transportation systems to control carbon dioxide emissions. Reduce energy consumption; adjust industrial structure; and strengthen cleaner production mechanisms, in order to prevent ecological destruction, global warming and climactic changes.

(VII) Promotion of educational reform

The purpose of promoting educational reform is to give everyone the access to school and social education, as well as to fulfill the goal of personal self-development. For primary education, it needs to fulfill the goal of providing basic living skills. For higher education, it needs to emphasize on building basic scientific knowledge and social concerns.. Access to public information is also necessary. Social education needs to promote lifelong learning opportunities, in order to uncover citizen's natural talents and to buildup a computerized society.

(VIII) Promotion of public policy participation

Policy decisions should be formed based on public consensus and support. We must respect comments from minorities, promote broad public participation in public and global environmental affairs, and accept public input.

(IX) Adjustment of organizational structure and proceeding with governmental reconstruction

Adjust governmental organization structure; raise the functions of National Sustainable Development Committee of Executive Yuan; establish Environmental Resource Ministry by integrating various ecological conservation, resource development, and environmental protection institutes. Proceed with government restructuring plan and implementation of a "focused, capable and perfect" policy package.

Guidelines for Sustainable Development Strategy

Agenda 21- Guidelines for the National Sustainable Development Strategy of R.O.C are divided into five chapters: Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Society, Sustainable Economic, Development Motivation, and Promotion Mechanisms, with specific focuses on twenty-two fields which are described respectively. The important development strategies for each chapter and field are presented as follows:

(I) Sustainable Environment

1. Atmosphere

Strengthen local air pollution control efforts, promote atmospheric protection under the viewpoint of global stances, and participate in international organizations and conferences.

	Implement air quality management;
	Enhance air pollution control from stationary sources;
	Enhance air pollution control from mobile sources;
	Comply with reduction timetable of Montreal Protocol, phase-out CFCs, promote trans-boundary joint reduction efforts to protect the ozone layer;

	Revise related energy and industrial policies regarding prevention of greenhouse effect;
	Promote sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides reduction schemes in order to mitigate the effects of acid rain.

2. Water resources

Strengthen water resource development, utilization, management, and conservation tasks and implement water pollution control measures.

	Form water resource policy with balanced development and conservation views; strengthen water consumption management; emphasize water conservation; improve water usage efficiency and appropriate allocation of water resources.
	Water resource development should focus on surface water as the primary source, taking into consideration the rivers' basic flow rates. Groundwater should be treated as the secondary source, but caution must be exercised while developing. Coastal water desalting, water regeneration, and reuse of other water sources are also important to the sustainable development of water resources.

	In order to achieve water quality preservation, strengthening of land use management and forestry conservation, and the erosion prevention and pollution control of watershed should be emphasized.
	Promote integrated planning and control for river valleys to improve river water quality

	Accelerate sewer system availability and management to improve domestic water pollution control.
	Enhance the conservation and management of groundwater to protect water resources and prevent land subsidence.

3. Terrestrial resources

Plan and manage natural environment and terrestrial resources fairly and efficiently, so that mankind and the environment can co-exist sustainably.

	Conduct integrated planning of terrestrial resources, establish greener life circle, integrate blue-belt system, strengthen regional cooperation, in order to achieve sustainable utilization of terrestrial resources.
	Establish management mechanisms for terrestrial resources which allows for future development, implement agricultural land and hillside management measures.

Enforce strict ban of development activities on virgin forests or ecologically sensitive mountain areas.

4. Marine resources

Integrate marine management systems, strengthen marine ecosystem protection, in order to prevent pollution of marine environment and over-fishing.

	Integrate marine management systems; take into account safety, economic, and environmental issues equally.
	Set up marine pollution control and monitoring systems.

	Adopt measures of over-fishing prevention, habitat protection, and pollution control; initiate planning programs for marine resources utilization and biodiversity protection.
	Increase marine spatial usage to mitigate the land shortage problems.

5. Biodiversity

Emphasize multi-dimensional research and conservation efforts on the genetic, species, and ecological diversity of flora and fauna, in order to ensure sustainable utilization of biodiversity.

	Enhance basic research of biodiversity, continuously implement species surveys and assessment works.
	Enhance biodiversity evaluation, personnel training and awareness promotion.

	Establish financial mechanism for biodiversity protection and sustainable utilization.
	Issue and revise regulations, policies and mechanisms for biodiversity protection and sustainable utilization.

	Ensure biodiversity protection and sustainable utilization issues are considered in planning of national economic development and land planning policy.
	Develop biotechnology development strategies, promote biotechnology development and biosafety management, ensure national bioresources protection and benefits can be shared.

	Enhance regulation and management of the generation, treatment, storage, transportation, and final disposal of industrial and radioactive wastes.
	Enhance the ratio of municipal wastes being collected and treated in an environmentally sound manner, and the establishment of proper industrial waste treatment systems.

6. Environmental management

Integrate nature protection, pollution prevention, environmental loading capacity, and green consumption pattern into environmental management strategies, in order to achieve a sustainable society and economy.

	Establish environmental impact assessment mechanisms for governmental policies;
	Enhance environmental impact assessment requirements for development activities;
	Establish total quantity control mechanism to maintain environmental capacity;
	Promote green production and consumption pattern, in order to create a society with recycling and conservation life style.

(II) Sustainable Society

7. Population and health

Maintain rational population growth, and provide adequate public sanitation and health services are the main requirements for a sustainable society.

	Maintain rational population growth and distribution;
	Increase population quality;
	Establish social welfare system;
	Satisfy basic medical demands and controlling infectious diseases efficiently;
	Respect people with different ethnic background;
	Improve health care services in both urban and rural communities.

8. Residential environment

Reconstruct residential areas, promote green buildings, improve people's identity with their local culture and community, create new image for urban and rural areas.

	Promote green buildings, harmonize space, landscape, and culture planning with systematic concepts, and create good living environment.
	Improve the service of public facilities in the community, improve community's living quality.
	Plan infrastructure according to local needs, create new image for urban and rural areas, create an ecologically-minded society that emphasizes recycling.

9. Social Welfare

Pay attention to domestic demands and solving of social problems, adopt efficient and proactive measures, integrate puresources to promote social welfare.

	Identify the function of social welfare policies;
	Adjust administrative systems for social welfare;
	Plan and integrate social welfare resources;
	Review and improve the implementation of social welfare system.;
	Enhance the development of social insurance.

10. Preservation of cultural heritage

Strengthen the management and reutilization of heritage, preserve traditions to improve cultural environment.

	Strengthen antique and heritage management and encourage establishment of private cultural museums;
	Enhance reutilization and maintenance of ancient heritage sites;

11. Disaster prevention and response

Promote disaster prevention education and exercises, and better utilization of sciences and technologies, in order to minimize damage to life and property.

	Promote disaster prevention education activities, implement disaster prevention practices, and establish a disaster-resistant society.
	Collect disaster prevention data continuously, set up disaster prevention data bank, promote the research of disaster prevention
	Collect disaster prevention data continuously, set up disaster prevention data bank, promote the research of disaster prevention and rescue technology, create new technology for disaster minimization and response.
	Proceed with disaster potential analysis, assess hazards of disaster and simulate disaster scenarios, propose disaster prevention and rescue programs.
	Integrate governmental and citizens' efforts to establish comprehensive and efficient disaster prevention, response, and insurance systems; implement periodic training.
	Implement earthquake, flooding, landslide, and land subsidence related engineering and non-engineering prevention measures.

(III) Sustainable Economy

12. Economic Development

Accumulate needed resources for sustainable development through production efficiency resulting from technological innovations. Develop equitable financial scheme for future generations, in order to allow for the co-existence of economic growth and environmental protection.

	Conservation and efficiency;
	Innovation and accumulation;
	Fairness and opportunity.

13. Industry Development

Adjust industrial structure to comply with the need of sustainable development. Consider changes in the internal and external conditions of environmental protection and economic development aspects, to achieve sustainable industrial development.

	Promote restructuring of industrial structure and establish industrial environmental management systems.
	Develop cleaner production technologies and promote green products.
	Enhance upgrade of agriculture sector, establish indigenous species breeding center, setup rational alternative cultivation systems, and promote organic farming.
	Protect forestry resources and use ecological concepts to manage forests.
	Promote fishery farming, use of recycled water in fishery farming and recreational fisheries.
	Implement livestock industry management, animal protection, and modernization.
	Propose eco-tourism development strategy, and create a fair and rational tourism environment.

14. Transportation Development

Recognize the transportation demand, utilize transportation technology, develop low pollution and energy saving transportation systems, and comply with national sustainable development strategy.

	Develop low pollution and energy saving transportation systems;
	Develop balanced transportation systems, reduce traffic jams and traffic intensity, reduce environmental impact resulting from transportation activities;
	Improve transportation quality and safety;
	Provide means of transportation in rural areas and outlying islands to disabled people;
	Enhance citizen participation in transportation infrastructure and accelerate transportation sector privatization;
	Promote transportation sector deregulation, automation, and computerization.

15. Energy Strategy

Promote energy conservation and development of clean energy, to stabilize energy supply

	Promote energy conservation and raise energy efficiency;
	Focus on Framework Convention on Climate Change and compiling national response strategy;
	Adjust energy policy and its structure;
	Adjust industrial policy and its structure;
	Enhance energy technology development;
	Utilize energy policy tools.

16. Resource recovery

Adopt proactive recycling and management strategy, avoid overuse of resources, and reduce chemical use.

	Utilize energy policy tools.
	Utilize energy policy tools.
	Utilize energy policy tools.
	Utilize energy policy tools.
	Utilize energy policy tools.

(IV) Motivation of development

17. Educational development

Assist all citizens to recognize the relationship between the environment and mankind through education, encourage responsible behavior toward the environment. These serve as the basis of sustainable development.

	Integrate technology into environmental education resources, and strengthen the sustainable education guidance for environmental education.
	Combine all social and environmental education resources, and increase the consensus and recognition of the environment.
	Promote educational reform, and help all citizens to understand the concept of sustainable development.
	Education should be blended into culture promotion, starting from traditions, mother language, and multicultural development.

18. Science and Technology Development

To have more ability to predict the environmental impacts from social, economic and development activities, through enhancing science and technology research and development, also, to have the ability to plan for recovery and remediation strategy.

	Enhance science research and promote multi-subject research programs and activities;
	Focus on environment, ecology, economics and social sciences, propose innovated technologies;
	Integrate industrial, governmental, and academic information, strengthen long-term science evaluation and development;
	Increase science and technology capacity building, accelerate the formation and development for inter-subject think tank;
	Setup sustainable development indicators and minimize the information deficit and differentiation gap between sectors;
	Establish and improve the inquiry pathway for environment and technology development.

19. Informationized (INFORMATIONAL)Society

Increase governmental and civilian information function through government and private sectors joint venture, move into informationized society swiftly, and become the new motivation of macro-efficiency

	Through government and private sectors cooperation to form a good development environment for informationized society.
	Establish network linkages and ensure broad services principles which can benefit all people.
	Expand training and capacity building of teachers, strengthen information network education in the primary and secondary schools, from lifetime learning network and raise citizens' information capability.
	Reward the establishment of quality Chinese websites, encourage industry to invest in application and services of all kind of information networks.
	Enhance the research and development of new information network technology, develop multimedia products and participate in international cooperation projects.
	Control and prevent cybersex and computer crimes, strengthen the organization and function of technology-aid control measures, integrate the crime prevention efforts of citizen groups and the community into monitoring mechanisms.

(V) Promotion Mechanisms

20. Public Participation

Establish the participation channel for public affairs, all individuals and social groups can take the leading roles in implementation of sustainable development activities.

	Implement local autonomy, enhance the interaction between local government and participating individuals.
	Encourage women to participate in environmental protection and social activities, and play an important role in implementing sustainable development actions.
	Extend knowledge fields of children and youngsters, provide opportunity for them to participate in the sustainable development actions.
	Assist industrial sector development, and ensure the sustainable development of aboriginals through policy and legislation.
	l Establish the participation mechanisms for non-governmental organizations in sustainable development actions.
	Assist workers to improve their working ability and employment opportunity, and to participate in environment and development related activities.
	Enhance the cooperation among technical, cultural, social, science groups and decision-makers, extend the scope of problem solving for environmental issues.

21. Governmental restructure

Based on the principle and spirit of simplification and innovation, to promote governmental restructuring and comply with global sustainable development trends.

	Adjust the manpower of government organizations, to increase the emergency response ability and extend the public participation;
	Reshape official image and status, raise service quality and public satisfactory;
	Deregulate, simplify regulatory procedures and achieve the goal of convenience;
	Strengthen government finance mechanism in order to improve resource management performance.

22. International Cooperation

Join international organizations and play an active role in all kinds of sustainable development related issues and activities.

	Seek the opportunity to join and participate in international organizations, strengthen cooperation on regional economic and trading activities, enhance competitive ability.
	Use the experience of developing an economic development and environmental protection balanced society, as well as experience in international trading, to assist the international community.
	Raise environmental protection and technological quality through participation in international environmental protection affairs.
	Participate in global ocean and other environmental conservation cooperation affairs with active attitude.
	Enhance technology exchange and international cooperation, develop environmentally sound technology.
	Promote cooperation in environmental and resource protection affairs between Taiwan and China, based on the progress of relationship development.

These guidelines will be revised periodically in accordance with the changes of environmental, social and economic conditions.