With a view to discussing low-carbon economy-related
issues, sustainable energy, green growth, and circular economy, the second academic exchange between
NEU and NTPU was held on June 24, 2022, in a hybrid format.
The
exchange continued the success of a series of academic exchanges 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 of 2021-2024.
The second exchange was
attended by leaders and experts from National Economics University (NEU): Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho – Chairman, National Economics University Council; Dr.
Dao Thanh Tung - Head, Department of International Cooperation; Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Dinh Duc Truong - Dean, Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban
Studies; and lecturers Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban
Studies.
Regarding delegates from universities
and institutions in Taiwan, Prof. Chang Ssu-li, Prof. Wang Chih-Yu, research
assistant Hung Yuei-Rong, Institute of Natural Resource Management, National
Taipei University; Prof. Emeritus Huang Chung-Huang from National Tsing Hua
University; Assoc. Prof. Huang Pin-Yi from Chinese Culture University; Prof.
Liao Tsung-Sheng from National Chung-Cheng University; Assoc. research fellow
Yang Chin-Wen from Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research; Dr. Tsai,
Ming-Shiu from Seeing Carbon Offset Ltd in Taiwan.
Starting the exchange,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho – Chairman of NEU Coucil thanked the dedicated
participation of professors and experts from universities and institutions in Taiwan.
The Chairman of NEU Council said that with strong statements of nations at COP26 on
energy transition and low-carbon development pathway aimed to keep the global
temperature rise at 1.5oC by the end of the century, reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and promoting low-carbon economy towards net zero
emission target by 2050 have become the mainstream development pathway in the
world in the coming time. Implementing this roadmap requires all countries to
make a drastic transition towards a low-carbon development pathway. In this context,
universities can play a key role in helping to meet the
various challenges posed by climate change by providing more
adequate teaching programs with the proper inclusion of climate change related issues as well as conveying
valuable scientific research results to policymakers. Being a leading
university in economics, management, and business in Vietnam, the National
Economics University has pioneered training and research on economics and
management of climate change as well as has made significant efforts to convey
research results on climate change to the national policy-making in Vietnam.
National Taipei University, National Tsing Hua University, and National
Chung-Cheng University are very well-known universities in Taiwan in training
and research on economics and management of natural resources, low-carbon
economy, circular economy, and sustainable development. Through that, Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Bui Duc Tho emphasized the importance of the academic exchanges between universities
and institutions in Vietnam and Taiwan.
Emeritus professor Huang Chung-Huang from National Tsing Hua University
delivered a welcome remark which highly appreciated the insightful
understandings of NEU delegates about the context and process of promoting a low-carbon
economy in Taiwan. Prof. Huang Chung-Huang stated that for many years, the
Taiwanese government is making great efforts to promote the development of a
green economy, and a low-carbon economy, and at the same time promote
cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
Professor Chang Ssu-li from National Taipei
University thanked NEU leaders for all the kind words and expressed her
expectation of future cooperation with NEU in not only low-carbon economy but
also in various academic fields, especially renewable energy and environmental
technology innovations.
The first presentation on policies and practices
on the low-carbon economy in Vietnam was provided by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc
Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change, and Urban
Studies. Assoc. Prof. Dinh Duc Truong explained the motivations, targets, and
orientations of promoting a low-carbon economy in Vietnam and provided
insightful information on supporting policies and challenges of the pathway to
low-carbon goals in Vietnam.
The second presentation on policies and
practices for the low-carbon economy in Taiwan was delivered by Emeritus professor
Huang Chung-Huang from National Tsing Hua University. In his presentation,
Prof. Huang shared innovations that have been made for a low-carbon economy in
Taiwan. Prof. Huang indicated that, given the growing demand for carbon border
adjustment mechanisms and green supply chains, carbon emissions will soon
become a strong determining factor in industrial competitiveness, posing a
tremendous challenge for foreign trade-oriented economies such as Taiwan. This
means that an economy that seizes on key emission-cutting innovations will be
able to gain a competitive edge. In response to the global trend towards
net-zero, all departments and agencies should integrate the net-zero concept
into the philosophies of all governance and implementations.
During the exchange, delegates and experts discussed many
experiences on natural-based solutions in carbon reduction in Taiwan (using
oyster shells to neutralize acidity in water collection and treatment systems),
the equity in policy instruments across sectors, as well as ways to engage companies across
industries to reduce their carbon footprint. Hopefully, the shared experiences
and constructive comments given at the exchange have given lecturers and experts
from NEU many ideas for implementing activities toward a low-carbon economy,
which contributes to the promotion of a circular economy in Vietnam in the
coming time.