The British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) hosted a seminar on climate change in Taipei yesterday, gathering Taiwanese government officials and experts from the UK to discuss issues involved in moving toward a low-carbon economy.
Two hundred government officials, civil servants, academics and businesspeople were invited to the seminar, titled “Carbon confused? Opportunities and challenges of moving to a low carbon economy,” which was cosponsored by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Six speakers from the UK gave their views on managing carbon risks.
BTCO director David Campbell said the seminar was one of a series of climate change activities that the office was sponsoring and that it came at an important time because this year is a critical one for the world to come up with an ambitious approach to cutting carbon dioxide emissions.
He was referring to a UN meeting in Copenhagen in December to work out a new international climate change agreement before the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
“We all have a role to play in building a low-carbon future, but business perhaps has the greatest scope for making it happen,” Campbell said.
“For individual companies, those that move early will also see economic benefits as they develop technologies and strategies that will play a crucial role in moving the economy to a low carbon basis,” he said.
Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Huang Jung-chiou (黃重球) said that Taiwan hopes to learn from the success of greenhouse gas reduction systems in the UK and to explore other opportunities for cooperation and the exchange of knowledge with the UK.
“To eliminate the uncertainties that we face as we move toward a low carbon economy, we should take on the challenges and access international channels so that we could draw on the experience of other countries and strengthen our technology and skills in the field,” Huang said.
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