Taiwan works with SVG in combating climate change

Editor: The dangerous impact of climate change on humanity is becoming increasingly apparent and urgent, as evidenced by such phenomena as the wildfires this year in Hawaii, and the record-high temperatures worldwide in July. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan has launched a series of actions this year to combat climate change on local and international scales, including works with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Climate change does not discriminate, thus mechanisms such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement should not discriminate against Taiwan. We urge countries worldwide to back Taiwan’s participation in the Conference of Parties (COP 28) of UNFCCC which took place from November 30th to December 12th, 2023 in Dubai. As the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I am compelled to share some collaborative works that Taiwan is taking with St. Vincent and the Grenadines to combat climate change and contribute to global sustainability.

In the agriculture area, this year Taiwan launched the “Enhancing Vegetable Cultivation Management and Post-harvest Handling Project” with SVG’s Ministry of Agriculture to fortify food crop production resilience amid challenges brought by climate change.

We introduced heat-tolerant varieties of tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, and bell peppers, which varieties have undergone rigorous adaptability trials. By promoting these vegetables in SVG, this project aims to enhance local production capabilities, to bolster food security, and reduce import dependency.

Our efforts in energy transition and cutting carbon emissions have yielded results in the ICT Project with SVG’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology — “Enhancing Public Safety with Intelligent Video Analytics Project”;. We specially designed the server room at the Information Technology Service Office to bolster its energy efficiency and eco-friendliness. To achieve this commitment, we will implement a hot/cold aisle strategy, effectively managing airflow to curtail energy usage and diminish cooling expenses.

Studies affirm that a mere one-degree temperature rise yields a 4 to 5 percent reduction in energy costs. Hence, we have capped the server room’s maximum temperature at 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal efficiency. To ensure strict adherence, we will employ remote temperature monitoring. Additionally, we’ll procure air conditioners boasting an LV1 energy label or a CSPF exceeding 5.0 to further conserve energy and align with sustainable practices.

Moreover, Taiwan actively participates in enhancing emergency response with the Government of SVG to address potential natural disasters impacted by climate change. The "Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project; demonstrates our commitment in training emergency medical personnel, equipping them with crucial life-saving skills and medical devices, ensuring doctors, nurses, police officers, and ambulance staff preparedness during natural disasters. Notably, the project earned the “Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards, APSAA 2023” and the “Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards, TSAA 2023” recognizing its remarkable success in execution and sustainability. These acknowledgments reaffirm our commitment to combat climate change and promote sustainable development with international partnership with our allies.

As a reliable, secure, and trustworthy partner, Taiwan remains steadfast in contributing meaningfully to global sustainability efforts. Taiwan can apply its expertise to projects in fields such as disaster relief, disaster prevention, the environment, medical, public health, and green energy.

We hope the Taiwanese people can gain equal access to the work of the UNFCCC, be able to join international cooperation mechanisms to address climate change, and participate in negotiations related to the Paris Agreement.

Fiona, Huei-Chun Fan
Ambassador of Taiwan to SVG