Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) urged city residents on Monday not to have outdoor barbecues during the Mid-Autumn Festival as part of the city’s efforts to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Sept. 14.
“Cutting back on carbon emissions has been a goal of the Taichung City Government since last year and the municipal authorities will from now on take concrete action by asking citizens not to have barbecues in parks or other public open spaces during the festival,” Hu said, adding that he had asked municipal agencies to start promoting the campaign.
“Barbecuing is not good for the health and goes against global eco-friendly efforts,” he said.
“The city government will do its best to stop people from having barbecues in parks, streets or grassy areas during the Mid-Autumn Festival,” he said.
Last year, the city government banned barbecues in parks on the holiday and barbecuing was only allowed in a few public venues, he said.
Hu said that 30 percent of the nation’s population barbecuing for one hour alone would produce an estimated 5,440 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
By comparison, 170 tonnes of emissions could be avoided if the nation’s entire population switched off their lights at home for 70 minutes, he said.
Packaging for traditional moon cake gift boxes should also be trimmed, he said.
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