A total of 84 schools in Taiwan were honored by the Ministry of Environment as part of the U.S.-Taiwan Eco-Campus Partnership Dec. 25 in Taipei City for promoting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the MOENV, a record 16 schools secured Green Flags this year, the program’s highest honor, while 31 received silver awards and 37 earned bronze.
Chaocuo Waldorf Education Experimental Elementary School in Yunlin County and Dashan Elementary School in Miaoli County both obtained their fourth and permanent Green Flag certifications. The former was recognized for incorporating the concept of sustainable management into its curriculum, while the latter was honored for promoting plastic reduction and energy saving on campus.
It usually takes a school 10 years to achieve the highest status, the ministry said, adding that the results underscore the two schools’ dedication to environmental sustainability.
Equally impressive, the MOENV said Micang Elementary School in New Taipei City received its third Green Flag certification for efforts to restore surrounding coastal flora and protect the habitat of red-clawed crabs. Daan Elementary School in Taoyuan City also won its third Green Flag for encouraging students to experiment with wind turbine construction.
The initiative was launched in 2014 by the MOENV’s precursor, the Environmental Protection Administration, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to empowering low-carbon campuses, the program seeks to implement the SDGs to foster a better world and advance the education of future generations.
Since then, 747 local schools have joined the initiative, with 490 earning awards. Through the program, schools encourage faculty, students and community members to discuss environmental protection-related issues and take concrete action. (SFC-E)
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