President Tsai addresses COP26 Taiwan Day event
On the afternoon of November 7 (morning of the same day in the UK), President Tsai Ing-wen addressed the Taiwan Day event held on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP26) via video. President Tsai stated that no single country can address the global climate crisis alone and that Taiwan should be included as part of the solution to this issue. The president also reiterated that Taiwan is willing and able to work side-by-side with our international partners to achieve our collective goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.
A transcript of President Tsai's remarks follows:
First, I want to extend a warm welcome to you all for your presence at COP26 Taiwan Day.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present tremendous challenges to the world, the effort to tackle the global climate crisis also requires our immediate and joint attention.
In recent decades, the world has faced increasingly grave challenges from extreme weather and climate change. Taiwan, as an integral part of the global community, is looking to play a role and make greater contributions in this important endeavor, so we can leave a better world for our future generations.
Therefore, on this critical issue of climate change, Taiwan is determined to join the world in working toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
My administration has been aggressively implementing an energy transition plan since 2016, and is cultivating an even more aggressive plan to expedite our energy transition toward the net-zero goal. To demonstrate our commitment, we are also incorporating the target of "2050 Net-Zero Emissions" into our domestic law.
Our government is also engaging the private sector to jointly develop green energy. Our collaboration has helped Taiwan's installed solar power capacity grow 450 percent over the past five years. And our first offshore wind farm began operation in 2019.
Our effort doesn't stop here. We aim to do more than just to expedite our own energy transition. Taiwan is also working to become the Green Energy Hub in Asia. We also want to share our experience with neighboring countries to facilitate a more sustainable region.
With the international community taking steps toward a zero-carbon economy, I am pleased to see so many experts from government agencies, industry, civil society, and academia gathered here today. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to discuss and exchange views on green energy and green finance with our friends from around the world.
Let me take this opportunity to reiterate that Taiwan is willing and capable to work side-by-side with our international partners to achieve our collective goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Taiwan regards attaining net-zero and mitigating crisis as our collective and generational responsibility. And for this very reason, Taiwan should be included as part of the solution to address the global climate crisis. No single country can do this alone. Only by being united can we ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.
Thank you all again for your participation. I wish you all a productive and fruitful COP26 Taiwan Day.
The UNFCCC COP26 meetings are being held in Glasgow, Scotland between October 31 and November 12. Taiwan held COP26 Taiwan Day on November 7 in Glasgow to show our nation's willingness and determination to work with international partners to address climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.