Kaohsiung City is actively engaging in global climate initiatives. Led by Director Jui-Hun Chang of the Environmental Protection Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, a delegation attended the World Local Governments Climate Summit held from April 14 to 16, 2025, in Goyang City, South Korea. Over the course of three days, the delegation participated in various exchange activities and was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled "Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Energy Structure: The Kaohsiung Experience." The presentation highlighted Kaohsiung's concrete strategies and achievements in promoting energy transition, industrial carbon reduction, and community-based energy initiatives. Additionally, the delegation engaged with representatives from other cities to broaden international perspectives on urban climate governance.

The 2025 World Local Governments Climate Summit was co-hosted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government of South Korea and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. The event highlighted the crucial role of local governments in driving climate action, centering on the theme “Science-Based, People-Centered Green Transition.” Delegates from countries including the United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and Sweden were invited to participate in in-depth discussions. On April 16, Director Jui-Hun Chang of the Environmental Protection Bureau presented Kaohsiung’s strategies for energy transition, joining representatives from Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, and others from environmental, urban planning, and energy sectors in a dialogue on the policies and technologies behind local government-led energy transformation.

Director Jui-Hun Chang of the Environmental Protection Bureau emphasized that as Taiwan's industrial hub, Kaohsiung accounts for approximately 20% of the nation's total carbon emissions, with over 70% stemming from the energy sector. Recognizing the imperative for energy transformation, the city has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance to demonstrate its commitment. Key initiatives include decommissioning coal-fired units at the Hsinta Power Plant, implementing hydrogen co-firing technologies, and phasing out coal use in boilers across 15 local combined heat and power plants. Efforts also extend to promoting low-carbon industrial processes, advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen technologies, and mandating the semiconductor industry to adopt renewable energy to achieve RE100 goals. In terms of energy generation, Kaohsiung is enforcing regulations that require new constructions and public buildings to install solar photovoltaic systems. The city is also enhancing the efficiency of waste-to-energy plants and exploring diverse energy sources such as small-scale hydropower and biogas. Through the establishment of net-zero demonstration zones, residents are encouraged to install rooftop solar panels, thereby comprehensively advancing the city's energy transition.

Beyond showcasing Kaohsiung’s carbon reduction achievements and policies, the delegation’s key mission at the summit was to gain valuable international insights. For example, during the discussions on April 16, Malaysia’s Hang Tuah Jaya presented its target to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 and outlined its energy transition roadmap to support urban decarbonization. Gyeonggi Province in South Korea shared its efforts to identify suitable areas for renewable energy deployment and promote RE100, while collaborating with local residents to enable shared profits from renewable energy generation—creating a win-win model. The Kaohsiung delegation also held in-depth discussions with ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin at the ICLEI World Secretariat, focusing on the "Kaohsiung–ICLEI Climate Neutral and Smart City Community of Practice" initiative. As the lead city, Kaohsiung will collaborate with 15 other cities across East and Southeast Asia, leveraging its Net Zero Academy to promote knowledge exchange and practical cooperation in climate neutrality, energy transition, circular architecture, green finance, and sustainable transportation. The city also aims to foster future cross-border industrial technology partnerships to enhance the international competitiveness of its urban and industrial systems.

Director Jui-Hun Chang emphasized that the visit to the World Local Governments Climate Summit was highly fruitful. In addition to sharing Kaohsiung’s experience, the delegation will thoroughly study the international approaches encountered during the summit to provide valuable insights and references for advancing Kaohsiung’s net-zero and sustainable city policies.