The annual ChangeNOW Summit in Paris this year features a Taiwan pavilion for the first time, highlighting Taiwan's efforts in marine conservation and sustainable innovation.
Organized by Impact Hub Taipei, central government agencies, Taipei and non-governmental organizations, the "Taiwan House" showcases projects aimed at protecting ocean ecosystems and promoting a more sustainable future, Impact Hub Taipei said.
At the three-day event's opening ceremony yesterday, Representative to France Hao Pei-chih (郝培芝) said that the pavilion demonstrates Taiwan's active role in global sustainable development.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan, as an island nation, has long devoted itself to promoting pragmatic and innovative solutions related to marine conservation, she said.
Taiwan's contributions to energy transition and sustainability deserve greater international recognition, said French lawmaker Eric Bothorel, who also attended the event.
Taiwan should not be excluded from global participation due to geopolitical pressure, he said, pledging to continue advocating for its inclusion in international institutions.
Taiwan responded particularly actively to the summit's invitation, ChangeNOW founder and CEO Santiago Lefebvre said.
The event aims to serve as a platform for collaboration, helping innovative solutions secure the support and funding needed to scale up, he said.
One of the Taiwanese organizations showcasing their innovations at the pavilion is Azure Alliance, displaying its third-generation "Azure Fighter," an electric autonomous vessel designed to collect floating waste in waterways.
The system has removed more than 15,000kg of marine debris.
Most of the waste consists of household garbage, such as PET bottles, followed by fishing buoys, plastic bags and disposable utensils, Azure Alliance CEO Cheer Chen (陳思穎) said.
Wonder Greener is exhibiting its plant-based Lepironia straws, a plastic-free alternative used by more than 1,500 clients worldwide.
The product is priced competitively with paper straws and produced using an automated process, Wonder Greener Founder Benson Chen (陳柏燊) said.
The company is also exhibiting a plant-based mat designed to support coral reef restoration by shielding exposed corals from heat and sunlight.
Meanwhile, Re-Think is showcasing its online Guidebook of Marine Debris and Recycle Index, which use data-driven approaches to improve public understanding of waste and boost recycling rates.
Founded in 2017, the ChangeNOW Summit brings together global innovators and sustainability leaders to promote actionable solutions to environmental challenges.
This year's event features national pavilions from Taiwan, the Netherlands and Ukraine.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS