Taipei was presented with the Citizens’ Choice Award at this year’s City Climate Leadership Awards ceremony in New York on Monday.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) accepted the award from Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, chairman of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
Paes said that the winner of the Citizens’ Choice Award was determined by the results of a global online vote that took weeks to complete, making Taipei’s victory a hard-won achievement.
The outcome demonstrates that Taipei’s efforts to improve environmental quality have won worldwide recognition, he said.
Hau said the award is not only the result of hard work by all Taipei residents, but also represents the approval of voters around the world for the city.
The mayor said Taipei is happy with the achievement, but will keep moving forward toward higher goals.
The city was a finalist in the “air quality” category of this year’s City Climate Leadership Awards for its “Clean Air: It’s Your Move” project, which aims to reduce air pollution by rewarding low-pollution vehicles and encouraging cycling and the use of public transit.
London won the category.
A total of 31 projects from 26 global cities that demonstrate leadership in taking action on climate concerns were selected as finalists for this year’s awards.
Prior to the ceremony, Hau met with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to discuss urban development issues. He also invited De Blasio to visit Taipei.
Hau was scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding with Columbia University yesterday on a cooperation project in which the university would provide study programs for Taipei City Government employees.
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