On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the academic exchange between National
Economics University (NEU) and
Taiwan
Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE) on the low-carbon economy in
Vietnam and Taiwan was held in a hybrid format.
Under the framework of the Taiwan Studies Project “Capacity Building in Training and Research on Low Carbon Economy in the context of Climate Change for the National Economics University in Vietnam in partnership with Universities and Research Institutes in Taiwan” funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Education in the period 2021-2024, the exchange aims at providing an academic platform for
experts and scientists to discuss and share experiences on policies
and practices on the low-carbon economy in Vietnam and Taiwan, net-zero
emission target and initiative, sustainable energy towards a low-carbon
economy, low-carbon business and corporate sustainability.
Attending the meeting, regarding
National Economics University (NEU): Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho - Chairman,
National Economics University Council; Dr. Pham Sy Long, Vice Head, Department
of International Cooperation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong - Dean, Faculty
of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies; and lecturers of Faculty of
Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies.
From Taiwan Institute for
Sustainable Energy (TAISE), the exchange was honored to welcome Dr. Eugene
Chien - Ambassador-at-large for climate change and sustainability, Taiwan
R.O.C, Chairman and President of TAISE; Dr. Young Ku - Chief Executive Officer
of TAISE, Chair Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology; Dr. Pen-Chi Chiang, Emeritus Professor, Graduate
Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University; Dr.
Hsiao-Kang Ma, Research Center of Climate Change and Sustainable Development,
National Taiwan University; Dr. Pin-Chih Wang - Deputy CEO of TAISE, Adjunct
Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan
Christian University.
Starting the exchange, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho – Chairman of NEU
Council expressed his pleasure to welcome distinguished guests from TAISE and
shared his hope that the exchange would be a valuable opportunity for the two
organizations and experts to raise and discuss low-carbon economy-related issues
in Vietnam and Taiwan, as well as provides managers and policymakers with
valuable information for appropriate policy decisions in the future.
Dr. Eugene Chien delivered a welcome speech that
emphasized that climate change is the biggest risk to
mankind and one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century, which
needs to be addressed through international cooperation in the context of
sustainable development. The Taiwanese Government will focus on research and
development in green energy, smart grids, and energy storage equipment in its
push to cut carbon emissions.
The first presentation on policies and practices
on the low-carbon economy in Vietnam was provided by Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Hoai Thu,
Deputy Head, Department of Climate Change Economics and Management. The
presentation gave an overview of Vietnam’s economy, greenhouse gases emission
in Vietnam, the net-zero emission target in Vietnam by 2050, and challenges
toward a low-carbon economy in Vietnam.
The second presentation on policies and
practices for the low-carbon economy in Taiwan was delivered by Dr. Young Ku -
Chief Executive Officer of TAISE. Dr. Young Ku expressed the determination of the
Taiwan Government and industries in moving toward a low-carbon economy,
sticking with the long-term national greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of
net-zero emissions by 2050. Dr. Young Ku emphasized that though governmental
agencies had carried out voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction agreements
with various energy-intensive industries, and several demonstration projects
had been initiated for organizations of various sectors for greenhouse gas
emission mitigation, Taiwan is facing many challenges including differences in policy
areas such as industry, transportation, energy, environment, etc; the genuine
involvement for all parties (governmental and non-governmental organizations);
the supervision of greenhouse gas emission management schemes to maintain high
implementation quality by persistent monitoring; and application of managing/monitoring
tools.
Dr. Pen-Chi Chiang -
Emeritus Professor, Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National
Taiwan University shared on international movements of Taiwan on sustainable
development goals, decarbonizing supply chains principles, decarbonizing supply
chains practices, and challenges and perspectives for Taiwanese industries. Dr.
Pen-Chi Chiang believed the introduction of the green supply chain performance
management system into procurement criteria and decision-making and select
green suppliers should be prioritized; guidelines and plans for carbon pricing
mechanisms and a transparent supply chain emission should be established.
During the open
discussion session, experts from NEU and TAISE discussed experiences and
lessons learned on planning policies and mobilizing financial sources for
low-carbon economy projects and actions.
Closing the exchange, Dr. Eugene Chien expressed his expectation of more discussions on the low-carbon
economy between TAISE, other institutions in Taiwan, and experts from Vietnam to
be organized in near future. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho thanked the dedicated
participation from TAISE and expected more in-depth information to be presented
and discussed with TAISE and other Taiwan institutions in the future.