The Kaohsiung City Government today (3rd) signed the Public Sector Sustainability Initiative in collaboration with the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE). The agreement was jointly signed by Mayor Chi‑Mai Chen and TAISE Chairman Eugene Chien. Through this initiative, the Kaohsiung City Government pledges to establish a dedicated sustainability unit, publish a Voluntary Local Review (VLR), strengthen public-private partnerships and implement emissions reduction and energy transition efforts, demonstrating its commitment to playing a key role in local climate action and sustainable development.

Mayor Chi-Mai Chen stated that the 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to within 1.5°C, making net-zero a “must-pass test” for cities. In response, Kaohsiung is actively rising to the challenge by setting clear targets and taking concrete action. Just yesterday (2nd), the City Council passed the “Urban Carbon Budget,” aiming to reduce citywide carbon emissions to 50.93 million tons by 2026 through six major sectoral initiatives. He pointed out that industrial emissions account for 80% of Kaohsiung’s total, posing a significant challenge, but also a major opportunity. To date, Kaohsiung has already reduced 16.62 million tons of CO₂ compared to the baseline year, exceeding the annual emissions of Taipei City. The city government is taking a multifaceted approach, including comprehensive net-zero training for department heads, senior and mid-level civil servants and project officers to enhance governance capabilities. Additionally, Kaohsiung has launched cross-departmental carbon credit strategies in collaboration with National Tsing Hua University. 

Environmental Protection Bureau Director Rui‑Hun Zhang stated that in 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasized that Kaohsiung’s industrial heritage drives its focus on net-zero and sustainability initiatives. In partnership with the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, the city has signed the Public Sector Sustainability Initiative, committing to the following actions:

1. Strengthen institutional governance by establishing a dedicated sustainability team and regularly publishing Voluntary Local Reviews.
2. Expand social impact by promoting joint development of the public and private sectors through policy coordination and international collaboration.
3. Accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and develop a carbon neutrality strategy.

Today, alongside the signing ceremony, the city government arranged a keynote presentation by Ambassador Eugene Chien, offering SDG alignment strategies for Kaohsiung from an international perspective. Additionally, the "Sustainability Risk Governance and Net‑Zero Thinking Practical Workshop" was held to assist over 35 city departments in exploring stakeholder engagement, materials issue identification and action plan appropriateness, effectively providing a comprehensive sustainability audit for the city administration.

Director Jui-Hun Chang of the Environmental Protection Bureau emphasized that sustainability and net-zero are not the responsibility of a single department, but a collective effort across the entire governance framework. Kaohsiung will continue to collaborate with all sectors, implementing its sustainable city goals through strong public-private partnerships. He expressed special thanks to the foundation for signing the initiative with the city, which will help further refine and strengthen government policy and action.