Taipei, Oct. 20 (CNA) The “Songshan Declaration” was officially announced on Friday at the opening ceremony of the third Taiwan Climate Action Exposition (TWCAE), a three-day event featuring interactive exhibitions and multiple fora that aim to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability.
The exposition is hosted by the International Climate Development Institute (ICDI) and National Taiwan University’s (NTU) Biodiversity Research Center. Other co-hosts include the Taipei City government, Cathay Financial Holdings Co., Embassies of Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, and British Office Taipei.
Friday’s opening ceremony was kicked off by the choir of the Tianmu Elementary School and the Polynesian dance performance from the delegation from Tuvalu, who according to the event respectively represented the children and the people of the South Pacific Islands that are and will be the most impacted groups by the deteriorating environment and climate change.
During the ceremony, dozens of representatives from the signatory groups jointly endorse a bottom-up initiative, the “Songshan Declaration,” which was proposed by this year’s TWCAE to respond to the first “Global Stocktake” of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28), scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.
The declaration was initiated by both private and public sectors, the academia, and the social groups in Taiwan, according to the TWCAE, to respond to the the Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Report by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that warned the world of the insufficient effort put into limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels before 2030.
In a pre-event press conference earlier this month, it was announced that the declaration has six major dimensions, which are carbon emission reductions and corresponding adaptations, participating in the international sustainable development goals, supporting the “taxonomy regulations” that classify green and sustainable economic activities, advocating sustainable life to the public, and implementing the Climate Change Response Act passed earlier this year.
The declaration will be brought to COP28 in December, according to the host organizations.
Chiou Chyi-rong (邱祈榮), president of ICDI and an associate professor of forestry and resource conservation at NTU, said at the opening ceremony that the Songshan Declaration is to show to the world Taiwan’s commitment and contribution to sustainability.
“It is difficult for Taiwan to be seen because of our status on the global stage, so we are making our own initiative, proposing the Songshan Declaration,” he said.
Chiou also pledged to continue working toward the three goals that ICDI was set up for, which are cultivating Taiwanese young people’s international vision, bringing domestic achievements to the global state, and bringing the international resources back to Taiwan.
Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) said he was glad to see the exposition display a “happy atmosphere,” with different kinds of interactive activities that people can have fun with.
He said it is important to have climate-related exhibitions that are accessible for the general public, stressing that the climate issue is one that involves, most importantly, public participation.
“[Public] education in this accessible manner about green energy and the impact of climate change is the key to Taiwan’s achieving energy transition and 2050 net zero,” Tseng said.
Friday’s opening ceremony also saw Shyam Desai, head of British Office Taipei’s economic cooperation and growth section, Cathay Financial Holding President Lee Chang-ken (李長庚), and Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Environment Shih Wen-then (施文真) deliver opening remarks.
This year’s exposition is held at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 Warehouses from Friday to Sunday.
