Taiwan Review
Date: November 1, 2015
By: OSCAR CHUNG

A forum for nongovernmental groups helps Taiwan learn from and contribute to

The UNFCCC NGO Forum in Taipei City in August was attended by a number of foreign experts with close ties to U.N. agencies or other prominent international organizations. (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)

international efforts to tackle global warming.

In the week leading up to an international climate change conference for nongovernmental organizations (NGO) in August this year, Annie Chang (張琬琪) was brimming with anticipation and excitement. The annual forum in Taipei on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is of great significance to local NGOs, she explains, as it provides them with an opportunity to share their insights with representatives of prominent international groups. “Of course, participating in one of the panels is a little nerve-racking,” says the researcher from the Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development, a Taiwanese organization founded in 1998. “But overall I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss our experiences and exchange views on climate change.”

The UNFCCC NGO Forum, co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), is among a number of regularly scheduled events that help connect Taiwan to international efforts to tackle global warming. Due to its unique status in the international community, the Republic of China (ROC) is not a member of the U.N. and therefore is not a signatory to the UNFCCC, an environmental treaty for combating climate change. As a result, official representatives from Taiwan do not take part in UNFCCC conferences.     [FULL  STORY]