The Air 2025 Smart Cities—Sustainable and Clean Air Technology Innovation Forum kicked off Feb. 24 in Taipei City, bringing together experts from home and abroad to discuss major issues affecting air quality, the Ministry of Environment said.
According to the MOENV, the two-day event involved officials from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and the South Coast Air Quality Management District of the U.S. state of California, as well as academics from several leading universities in the U.S.
During his opening remarks, MOENV Minister Peng Chi-ming said that as the government aims to cut Taiwan’s greenhouse gas emissions by 26-30 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, it is imperative to take into consideration carbon emissions’ effect on air pollution.
To achieve the annual average target of below 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter, Peng said behavioral changes by the public will play a key role. In response to societal expectations for expanded public-private collaboration on air quality control, the MOENV will set up dedicated centers to apply artificial intelligence and data management to monitor and forecast air quality while promoting green energy development and net-zero emissions, the minister added.
The MOENV said the event will help introduce new technological developments and encourage public engagement, adding that the results of the forum will serve as a valuable reference for future policy measures. (SFC-E)
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