Taipei City-based Academia Sinica recently joined Foundation Delta Alliance International, demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to tackling the global challenges of climate change and flooding.
“Through the FDAI network, Academia Sinica will share its knowledge and experience of delta regions in Taiwan while cooperating with other international members and environmental organizations,” the nation’s top research institution said in a statement Oct. 13.
Signed by Academia Sinica President Wong Chi-huey and Tineke Huizinga-Heringa, chairwoman of the alliance’s International Governing Board, the membership agreement is also expected to bring related Taiwan research standards more in line with the rest of the world.
Terms of the agreement require Academia Sinica to establish a partnership with National Yilan University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology and Tunghai University addressing sustainability issues of four delta regions of the Kaoping, Lanyang, Tamsui and Zhuoshui rivers.
Areas of collaboration include impact of natural disasters, aging population health, disease transmission caused by climate change, food security and other issues related to sustainability science.
Founded in 2009, the Rotterdam-headquartered FDAI is a knowledge-driven network consisting of 14 member organizations worldwide. It aims to strengthen resilience of the world’s deltas by reducing losses caused by natural disasters and promoting sustainable development.
The latest development is part of Taiwan’s ongoing public and private sector commitment to enhancing awareness of the impact of climate change.
In August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Environmental Protection Agency organized an international forum to promote the role of nongovernmental organizations in policymaking by the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Attended by dozens of academics, experts and NGO representatives from home and abroad, the one-day event also laid the foundation for strengthening cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan-based nongovernmental organizations and their international counterparts. (SFC-JSM)
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