As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, countries around the globe are seeking ways to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Taiwan is no exception. In 2021, the National Development Council released a roadmap for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The sports industry is an important player in this effort and must find ways to make a positive impact on the environment while ensuring its own sustainable development.
One example of a sustainable sports industry in Taiwan is running. With more than 70 marathons each year, the industry has a significant impact on the environment due to waste and energy consumption. To address these issues, the Taiwan Road Running Industry Association has developed a certification system for “green running” events. This system includes criteria for waste reduction, carbon offsetting and the use of eco-friendly materials. By promoting these practices, it aims to reduce the environmental impact of running events and promote sustainability in the industry.
While the association’s efforts are commendable, they represent only a small part of the overall challenge facing the sports industry in Taiwan. The Sports Administration’s Sports Industry Development Policy Guidelines provide a framework for a more comprehensive approach to sustainable development.
The guidelines call for the promotion of sports for all, including individuals with disabilities and those from underprivileged backgrounds. This inclusivity and diversity in sports should help promote a more equitable and sustainable society.
Additionally, they call for the development of sports-related technology and innovation to enhance the industry’s competitiveness and sustainability. This includes the development of smart sports equipment and facilities, as well as the use of big data and artificial intelligence to optimize sports performance and reduce fuel consumption.
Furthermore, the guidelines highlight the importance of sports tourism. By promoting eco-friendly practices in sports tourism, the sports industry can help promote sustainable development in the broader tourism industry.
However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed for the industry to achieve sustainable development. One is the lack of investment in sustainable sports infrastructure. Without proper facilities and equipment, it is difficult to promote sustainable practices in the industry. Another challenge is promoting sustainable practices among participants, fans and stakeholders.
To overcome these challenges, the government should take a leadership role in promoting sustainable development. This includes providing financial support for the development of sustainable sports infrastructure, promoting awareness of sustainable practices and incentivizing the adoption of sustainable practices among industry stakeholders.
By following the Sports Industry Development Policy Guidelines, promoting sports for all, developing sports-related technology and innovation, promoting sports tourism and providing leadership in promoting sustainable practices, Taiwan’s sports industry can become a leader in promoting sustainability in the region.
Gary Chen is an associate research fellow in the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research Department of International Affairs.
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
If you had a vision of the future where China did not dominate the global car industry, you can kiss those dreams goodbye. That is because US President Donald Trump’s promised 25 percent tariff on auto imports takes an ax to the only bits of the emerging electric vehicle (EV) supply chain that are not already dominated by Beijing. The biggest losers when the levies take effect this week would be Japan and South Korea. They account for one-third of the cars imported into the US, and as much as two-thirds of those imported from outside North America. (Mexico and Canada, while
The military is conducting its annual Han Kuang exercises in phases. The minister of national defense recently said that this year’s scenarios would simulate defending the nation against possible actions the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) might take in an invasion of Taiwan, making the threat of a speculated Chinese invasion in 2027 a heated agenda item again. That year, also referred to as the “Davidson window,” is named after then-US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson, who in 2021 warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) had instructed the PLA to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Xi in 2017
RSS