The Ministries of Environment and Health and Welfare held a joint advisory meeting on air pollution and health on Jan. 16 in Taipei City to improve air quality and protect public well-being, the MOENV said.
Hosted by Deputy Environment Minister Hsieh Yein-rui and Deputy Health Minister Chuang Jen-hsiang, the meeting brought together 11 experts in environmental medicine and public health, the MOENV said. Participants discussed the effects of extreme temperatures on human health and response strategies.
Hsieh said the two ministries will allocate research funding to enable more precise, evidence-based management. He added the environment ministry will strengthen early-warning systems for extreme weather through its climate adaptation mechanism.
He also outlined consensus measures from the meeting, including expanding education on air pollution and health in medical and long-term care facilities. Other steps include directing medical resources to vulnerable groups, prioritizing control of high-risk pollution sources and building an interministerial response system for extreme climate events.
The two ministries formed an advisory committee on air pollution and health and held their first forum in October, which included 21 academics, the MOENV said. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming and Health Minister Shih Chung-liang will co-chair another meeting on Jan. 26 on air quality, extreme temperatures and protection of vulnerable populations.
The ministries pledged to strengthen environmental protection and public health policies in line with President Lai Ching-te’s Healthy Taiwan initiative. They said the cooperation aims to improve resilience and safeguard public health nationwide. (POC-E)
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