A Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop on disaster prevention and sustainable operations coordinated by the National Science and Technology Council and the Japan Taiwan Exchange Association is underway through June 25, highlighting commitment to forging a safe and resilient society.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Institute in Taiwan, Australian Office Taipei and Canadian Trade Office in Taipei also contributed to the event, which drew over 150 participants from 34 countries, the council said. Speaking at the opening, NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen noted that disaster prevention relies on scientific research and integrated public-private-citizen operation procedures.
Wu further pointed out that the council specializes in research and application of pre-warning systems and risk management, adding that the NSTC has collaborated with private enterprises and nonprofit organizations including the Tzu Chi Foundation, Chunghwa Telecom Co. and FamilyMart convenience stores.
The workshop discussed six topics: the evolving role of NGOs, public-private collaboration in building disaster resilience, the application of AI and early warning systems, best practices in international coordination, social learning following major disasters and markers of a resilient society.
In a keynote speech, former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, said that disaster governance required advanced technology, whole societal participation and multinational collaboration to upgrade overall resilience.
According to the NSTC, the event included visits to the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction and Tzu Chi Foundation’s Jing Si Hall in New Taipei City to gain insight into best practice in leveraging science in disaster prevention and public-private cooperation.
The GCTF was launched by Taiwan and the U.S. in 2015 and the organization was subsequently joined by Japan, Australia and Canada. Over the decade, it has organized 88 workshops at home and abroad for more than 10,000 participants hailing from 133 countries and territories. (POC-E)
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