G2S2 Lecture – Dr. Eugene Chien : Taiwan’s Potential to Reach UN SDGs

08/13/2019 Global Governance
Lecture Topic: Taiwan’s Potential to Reach UN SDGs
Class taken by Dr. Eugene Chien
Dr. Eugene Chien got Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics at New York University and served as Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration from 1987 to 1991. He was the first minister after the establishment of the Environmental Protection Administration. His most vital contribution is to set up Recycling Fund Management Board that support the recycling activities in Taiwan.

In his class, Dr.Chien points out Taiwan has the potential to reach UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) in connection with the nexus of the government and businesses. It is impossible to follow the plan if the main actor is the government so we need the hand of businesses and public as well. In addition, to make the waste management more efficient requited environmental education. During his time as the minister, we worked closely with other ministry consisting of ministry of economic affair and ministry of education to urge them believe the environmental protection being better for the economy and the society in the long run. Changing the people behavior and raising environmental awareness needs to teach when they are children. That is the successful story of Taiwan that used to be called as the garbage island to the environmental-friendly island; ?however, we need to keep working for the better outcome.