Taiwanese NGOs are participating in this year’s UN climate summit or COP27. Representatives of the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition are set to speak at a youth forum on Thursday. This year’s summit is focused on reducing emissions and helping countries deal with the effects of climate disruption.
Taiwan is not a party of international agreements to combat climate disruption because the country is not a member of the UN. Still, Taiwanese NGOs regularly participate in the yearly climate summit, representing the country and transmitting its experience to the world.
Coalition member Chang Jui-ching (張睿晴) says her group is not there to take photos, but rather to connect with other youth activists from around the world. She says young people like herself are often used to “youthwash” conferences like the summit. That means they are used to make the conference seem more substantive than it really is. But Chang says she is willing to use any opportunity to make her voice heard.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, climate groups called on Taiwan’s government to increase cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 20% to 40%. Climate advisor Tsai Chung-yueh (蔡中岳) says realizing Taiwan’s net-zero emissions by 2050 goal is not possible without elevating 2030 reduction targets. He says continued inaction would put Taiwan’s commitment to carbon neutrality in a bad light.