TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an stood as Asia's lone representative Monday (June 23) at a global climate summit in Paris, where he showcased the Taiwanese capital's pioneering environmental initiatives to an audience of international urban leaders. Speaking at the "Summit of Mayors: From Paris to Belém: 10 Years of Global Action for Climate," Chiang detailed Taipei's successful strategies for reducing carbon emissions while maintaining economic growth, earning accolades from municipal officials across the globe.
During his address, Chiang underscored Taipei's recent economic milestone: NVIDIA's decision last month to establish its first international global headquarters, dubbed "The Constellation," in the city. The mayor pointed to this development as evidence of Taipei's successful balancing act between attracting major technology investments and maintaining environmental responsibility. Chiang unveiled plans to convert Beishi Technology Park into a comprehensive net-zero demonstration zone, with NVIDIA's new headquarters serving as the centerpiece of Taipei's vision for sustainable technological advancement.
The mayor elaborated on Taipei's comprehensive approach to embedding sustainability into citizens' everyday routines through transformative waste management and transportation systems. Under the city's innovative "Per-Bag Trash Collection Fee Program" (隨袋徵收), household waste has plummeted by 65 percent while recycling rates have surged to an impressive 66 percent. Chiang reported that Taipei's mass rapid transit system now accommodates 2 million daily rides, complemented by the popular YouBike program that provides free 30-minute rides, successfully converting approximately 25 percent of users from private vehicles to shared bicycles.
In a bold financial commitment, Chiang revealed Taipei's planned US$600 million investment in climate initiatives, with a significant portion dedicated to achieving a fully electric bus fleet by 2030. The mayor highlighted Taipei's leadership as the first city in Taiwan to enact the "Taipei City Self-Government Ordinance for the Management of Net-Zero Emissions" (淨零自治條例), establishing an ambitious roadmap to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 65 percent by 2040, ultimately achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The high-profile gathering, convened by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, drew prominent international figures including European Council President António Costa and former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, who delivered keynote addresses alongside Chiang. The summit attracted an impressive roster of global urban leaders, with mayors from influential cities across multiple continents in attendance, including Milan's Giuseppe Sala, Montreal's Valérie Plante, and Rabat's Fatiha El Moudni, underscoring the growing importance of city-level climate initiatives in addressing global environmental challenges. ◼
