Taiwan’s plan for the next 100 years should focus on sustainable development. Using a comprehensive approach, the government should look at the environmental protection issues important to each city and county and the strong points of each of these places. It should then manage demand, rather than allowing unbridled development aimed at “increasing domestic demand.” This is the only way to solve the current crisis.
Teamwork and controls at different levels of government is the only way to set up a framework for comprehensive environmental protection. Without such a framework, the development of partial emergency measures and piecemeal technological developments will do nothing to protect the environment or human life.
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the 921 Earthquake. Perhaps Taiwan will choose collective amnesia and continue with unbridled development. But every disaster is a reminder of Mother Nature’s power.
Environmental protection has become trendy in recent years and the National Land Restoration Act (國土復育條例) was established at a critical juncture. The act is now instrumental in protecting the environment. The draft national land planning act is also aimed at helping create a balanced ecology. However, the government’s fixation on saving energy and reducing carbon emissions has made ministries forget that sustainable development is the goal. There are many environmental protection policies and mechanisms in place and these should continue to be promoted, regardless of which political party is in power.
Development and environmental protection need not be in direct opposition. Given Taiwan’s topography and geology, however, development needs to be regulated in order to ensure sustainable development and protect lives.
As people question who is responsible for improving our environmental situation, perhaps environmental ideas that have long been politicized will again win favor. Environmental legislation should be completed at the appropriate time and everyone in Taiwan should try to do something for the sustainable development of the country.
Hochen Tan is chairman of the Taiwan Ecological Engineering Development Foundation.
Translated by Drew Cameron
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