TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has marked a milestone in environmental filmmaking with the debut of its first polar expedition documentary spanning both Arctic and Antarctic regions. The premiere of "Guardians of Our Planet" (守護我們的星球) on Thursday (April 24) drew the island nation's highest official, as President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) used the high-profile cultural event to amplify urgent messages about climate action and environmental stewardship.
Visibly moved after viewing a brief four-minute excerpt, President Lai characterized the documentary's revelations as "unimaginable," emphasizing the alarming pace of environmental degradation in Earth's polar regions and the accelerating extinction crisis. He commended filmmaker Shu Meng-lan (舒夢蘭) for her extraordinary commitment to the project, which spanned a decade and a half of expeditions to 115 distinct locations across both poles and captured footage of 82 different species, many facing severe threats from climate change.
The president pivoted from praise to policy, emphasizing that environmental protection demands widespread societal mobilization beyond the work of dedicated filmmakers like Shu. Lai highlighted his administration's early climate initiatives, including the establishment of the National Climate Change Policy Committee (國家氣候變遷對策委員會), a high-level governmental body formed shortly after his inauguration last May. The committee has established ambitious national carbon reduction targets: a 32% decrease by 2032 and a more aggressive 38% reduction by 2035, using 2005 emissions as the baseline, goals that will require extensive cooperation between government agencies and private industry.
In his closing remarks, President Lai articulated an aspirational vision for Taiwan's environmental leadership on the world stage, suggesting that the island's modest population of 23 million should not limit its global impact on climate action. "Let's keep up the good work," he said, delivering a direct call for national solidarity in what he framed as an existential challenge requiring unprecedented cooperation across Taiwan's society. The documentary's premiere thus served dual purposes: celebrating Taiwanese cultural achievement while reinforcing governmental climate priorities. ★
