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Updated Tuesday, November 22, 2011 0:21 am TWN, The China Post news staff



	Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy President Dr. Eugene Chien (簡又新), right, and German Institute Taipei Director General Dr. Michael Zickerick sign a letter of intent to jointly launch the 2011 Low-carbon Cities Forum in four major cities from Nov. 21. — Nov. 24, in Taipei, Friday, Nov. 18. (Courtesy of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy) Enlarge Photo

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TAISE to hold low-carbon forum with GIT

The China Post news staff--Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE, 台灣永續能源研究基金會) and the German Institute Taipei (GIT, 德國在台協會) will organize a “2011 Low-carbon Cities Forum” in four major Taiwanese cities from Nov. 21. — Nov. 24 with support by the Environment Protection Agency.

Former State Secretary for the Environment and Urban Planning of the City State of Hamburg Christian Maass will share the experience of Hamburg with Taiwanese local government representatives and officials. Rudiger Schweer, director in the Ministry of Environment of the German State Hessen, responsible also for cluster activities of low carbon communities and regions, will present how cities develop new business structures and generate new income in the context of low-carbon strategies in the beginning age of renewable energies (e.g. Climate-KIC Initiative).

“Germany and Taiwan are facing similar challenges in safeguarding prosperity and competitiveness,” said GIT Director General Dr. Michael Zickerick. “Climate change, rising energy costs among other challenges of our times have to be addressed and answered primarily by cities. A low-carbon strategy therefore is an investment into the sustainable future of a city.”

“Although many Taiwanese cities are aware of the challenges they face, more can be done in exchanging international experience and in raising public awareness for these problems,” said Dr. Eugene Chien (簡又新), President of TAISE. “TAISE therefore initiated this Forum as a starting point for more interaction in these matters. Germany is an interesting partner for us, since many German municipalities are already implementing low-carbon strategies. Using this low-carbon Forum, TAISE and the GIT launch a roadshow “sustainability” which will serve as a platform for more exchange on sustainable policies between Germany and Taiwan.”

Cities produce 80 percent of the annual world wide CO2 emissions and consume about 75 percent of the world's energy. No matter what the results of the UNFCCC Climate Summit in Durban, starting Nov. 28, will bring, the burden of the costs both mitigating (lowering carbon emissions) and adapting (flood prevention etc.) to climate change will mainly affect cities. In addition rising energy costs, aging societies and new technologies force cities to redefine their strategies of urban development.

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