A seminar on Taiwan’s efforts in advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals was staged Sept. 18 at Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York as part of a campaign to spotlight the country’s desire to participate in the U.N. system and merits as a valuable global partner in promoting the SDGs.
The event was jointly organized by the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration; the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), the nation’s foremost foreign aid organization; the permanent mission of the Marshall Islands to the U.N.; and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University.
Dignitaries in attendance included EPA Deputy Minister Thomas Shun-kuei Chan; Prime Minister Enele S. Sopoaga of diplomatic ally Tuvalu; Amatlain Elizabeth Kabua, permanent representative to the U.N. of diplomatic ally Marshall Islands; and Francesco Fiondella, director of communications at IRICS.
During the seminar, Chan unveiled a progress report on Taiwan’s implementation of the SDGs across six areas spanning air pollution, ecological conservation, energy transformation, international collaboration, material management and circular economy, and smart water management.
In his remarks, Sopoaga called on all countries to work together in tackling the threat of climate change and expressed gratitude to Taiwan for assisting Tuvalu and other diplomatic allies in responding to environmental disasters. Reiterating Tuvalu’s support for Taiwan’s international participation, he said the nation plays an important role in promoting sustainable development across the region and the wider global community.
The previous day, TECO in New York also launched the Creative Climate Awards, an annual art exhibition and competition aimed at raising awareness of climate change and inspiring action to mitigate its impacts. Running through Oct. 12, this year’s edition features works by 37 international artists.
Other events planned for New York include a speech by Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang Sept. 21 on open government, social and technological innovation and youth empowerment.
These activities are part of a campaign by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs themed U.N. Global Goals—Taiwan Can Help. Staged on the sidelines of the 73rd U.N. General Assembly, the initiative urges the multilateral body to deliver equal treatment to Taiwan’s 23 million people and resolve the issue of the nation’s exclusion from the U.N. system; grant press accreditation to Taiwan journalists and allow unfettered access to U.N. premises for the country's passport holders; and include Taiwan in SDG-related meetings, mechanisms and activities.
Under the campaign, the government has asked diplomatic allies to back the nation’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system through speaking out during the general debate or writing to the world body’s secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, according to the MOFA.
A series of five short videos titled “An SDG a Day” and subtitled in 10 languages has also been released on the MOFA-backed Trending Taiwan YouTube channel. Accumulating more than 8.7 million views, the series underscores Taiwan’s achievements and contributions toward the goals of affordable and clean energy, good health and well-being, quality education, responsible consumption and production, and sustainable food production systems.
Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2015, the SDGs are intended to end poverty, protect the environment and secure peace and prosperity around the world. The 17 goals comprise 169 targets in such fields as clean water and sanitation, climate change, gender equality, global hunger, poverty and sustainable cities. (KWS-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw