This year, I was fortunate to be invited by the artist Pou-Ching Tsai to support the workshop “Ice from the North and Salt Water from the South — TFAM beneath Sea Level.” This event was held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM) as part of the public program for the exhibition “Olafur Eliasson: Your Curious Journey.”

Pou-Ching Tsai’s work often explores human–animal relationships through the lens of biology. I have followed his exhibitions for a long time, and they always leave a strong impression on me. At the same time, I have encountered Olafur Eliasson’s works in cities like London, Seoul, and San Francisco. Since his focus on climate issues is well known, this was a rare and meaningful opportunity for me — especially as a sustainability professional with a background in biology and a long-term interest in contemporary art.

The workshop was led by Pou-Ching Tsai. It aimed to connect the melting of Icelandic glaciers — which often feels distant — to the reality of sea level rise in Taiwan. As ice sheets collapse, the distance between islands is no longer just about geography; we all become part of the same global challenge. On the day of the event, my role was to give two short talks and provide scientific references to the participants.

However, the most important work happened before the event. Unlike the “co-creation” roles I am more familiar with, this time I acted more as an advisor. I helped the artist find a balance between scientific accuracy and artistic imagination, ensuring the content remained professional. My involvement followed these principles:

• Being careful about how I intervened, so the artist’s original vision could be fully realized.
• Providing scientific data that supported the artist’s intent without being misinterpreted.
• Linking the workshop’s themes to current climate campaigns in Taiwan.
• Making sure the workshop remained engaging and didn’t feel like a dry science lesson.

Based on these goals, we made several adjustments to the workshop design:

• Reframing the story: Instead of focusing only on “catastrophic flooding,” we used flood maps to help participants imagine how we can adapt and live with water.
• Localised scenarios: We reconsidered using general overseas simulators because their assumptions didn’t fit Taiwan’s conditions. Instead, we used end-of-century projections (SSP5–8.5) as one scenario, while treating others as “speculative” tools to spark imagination.
• Urban water bodies: We encouraged participants to look at existing water in our cities and rethink our relationship with it.
• Focus on adaptation: We concluded by noting that even if we meet the Paris Agreement targets, we still need to adapt to a 1.5°C warmer world. This led to discussions about Nature-based Solutions and resilient infrastructure.

I want to thank Pou-Ching Tsai and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum again for this invitation. It was a wonderful experience to bring science and art together.

During 2024, I served as a climate change policy consultant at the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department and had the opportunity be a part of the Sustainability Committee of the Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology. Over a ten-month journey, I took on the role of a “translator,” helping museum staff navigate technical terminology and policy language, and supporting the completion of the museum’s 2025–2030 Sustainability Plan.

Bureaucracy Meets Museum Practice

The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology, located at the point where the Tamsui River meets the sea, is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Shihsanhang cultural heritage site. Following New Taipei City’s declaration of its net-zero target in 2021, the release of the “New Taipei City Net Zero Pathway and Climate Action White Paper” in 2022, and the designation of “Bali Net Zero Demonstration Area”, this municipal archaeological museum, situated in Bali, was pushed to the very front line. It was asked to take on a demonstrative role and become one of the first museums to deliver a formal sustainability plan.

Although there is already a couple of sustainability guidance for museums, the immediate challenge within a municipal museum lies its bureaucratic nature. As civil servants, museum staff are required to respond to institutional directives from the Cultural Affairs Department and other senior city government officials, where the production of a sustainability plan functions not only as a form of climate action, but also as a formal obligation within the bureaucratic system.

In order to demonstrate compliance with directives from above, museum and archaeology professionals found themselves constrained by the New Taipei City Net-Zero Pathway and Climate Action White Paper, a document saturated with climate policy and technical language, structured around city-scale, sector-based governance logics.

Because I had helped draft this white paper in 2022, I was well aware of how poorly its framework fit the daily realities of a municipal archaeological museum. Yet, required to work within it, staff became absorbed in carbon metrics and energy data, populating early drafts of the sustainability plan with fragmented, easily reportable actions such as “document digitisation,” “energy-efficient light bulb replacement,” and “encouraging public transport use.”

These measures served primarily to signal alignment with municipal expectations, but in doing so, they risked obscuring the museum’s core strengths: communication, education, and cultural preservation.

My recommendations

Through committee discussions, I suggested several ways for the museum to create a Sustainability Plan that was practical and aligned with the museum staff’s usual professional practice.

1. Embed sustainability into existing organisational structures.
   I recommended embedding sustainability into existing structures: the administration could focus on inventories, efficiency, and adaptation; education and research could shape how sustainability is expressed through narratives and exhibitions; and operations could integrate green procurement and volunteer engagement into daily practice. This approach ensures that sustainability becomes part of everyday work rather than an added burden.
2. Cultivate a sense of professional pride among staff.
   When I first joined the committee, sustainability was largely experienced as pressure and as an obligation to produce a report for superiors. By introducing specific guidance and case studies from the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and leading international museums, I helped shift this dynamic. The plan ceased to be a purely bureaucratic deliverable and became a platform through which museum professionals could actively apply their museological expertise to position the institution in relation to contemporary challenges.
3. Address sustainability through museum expertise.
   We drew in particular on the example of the Musée du quai Branly in France, which frames environmental protection as inseparable from cultural protection. This framing helped redirect the discussion toward responding to contemporary issues through archaeology itself, rather than pursuing expensive equipment to satisfy KPIs or mounting incongruous net-zero exhibitions within an archaeological museum.
4. Integrate climate adaptation into heritage conservation.
   The 2024 typhoon damage to the Juming Museum provided a vivid example of the real and urgent threats climate change poses to heritage. Using this case, I introduced the concept of climate adaptation and guided the team to understand that incorporating climate risk into their long-term conservation strategies is not merely a climate action measure, but an extension of their core work safeguarding cultural heritage.

As I wrapped up my roles at the Taiwan Research Institute and the Environmental Protection Department of New Taipei City, my work with the Shihsanhang Museum also came to a close. It was a real privilege to be part of such a transformative journey. Now, as a member of REnato lab, this experience has made me even more aware of the untapped potential of museums, especially in reducing Scope 3 emissions and using circular materials in exhibitions. I’m excited to keep exploring this field and contributing in the years ahead.

Special Thanks:

• Pei-Hsuan Lo (Director, Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology)
• Yuan-Chun Chou (Technical Specialist, Low Carbon Community Development Center. Environmental Protection Department, New Taipei City Government)
• Cheng-Wei Lin (Curator)

King’s Cross Bun Project Playbook (2020)

• A guiding document designed to assist the King’s Cross Bun Project, an initiative dedicated to promoting heritage grains in London, in formulating its organizational development plan
• A collaborative effort between Shun-Te Wang and Yu-Ting Huang, with support from Dr. Maria Chang of the King’s Cross Bun Project.
• Link: https://shuntewang.medium.com/kings-cross-bun-project-playbook-2020-155e3144712e

A study of London Culture based on two Case Studies: Brixton and Camden (2018)

• A joint project between UCL dept. of Geography and JustSpace, an alliance of London community groups.
• As the Greater London Authority (GLA) proposed the new London Plan, UCL and JustSpace worked together to review the new plan,interviewed local gross-roots, and combined different opinions into a report. The report was later sent back to the GLA as a reference of public consultancy.
• Participated as a student volunteer.
• Link: https://ucljustspace.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/supporting-consultation-on-london-plan/

The Heritage Shophouse Renovation Consultation Project in Kinmen (2017)

• Assisted Kinmen County Government in heritage shophouse preservation initiatives, conducting heritage building value assessment, site surveys, and stakeholder management. Successfully facilitated the restoration of two shophouses, both now completed.
• Established a community hub in the historic district, assisted public policy consultations, oral history interviews, exhibitions preparation, and workshops.
• Participated as a part-time project assistant.
• Link: https://leechenstudio.myportfolio.com/32

Local-M Village Live (2016)

• Contributed to ‘Local-M Village Live,’ the first community-led music festival in Kinmen, aiding with fundraising and merchandise management.
• Participated as a part-time project assistant.
• Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkVtgrtryIM

NuanNuan Egg (2015–2016)

• Established a youth initiative in Nuannuan District, Keelung City, coordinating with local stakeholders to conduct oral history interviews and workshops on coal mining. Completed a community curation project, earning the Excellence Award in Community Building from Sinyi Realty.
• Transformed abandoned police quarters into a community hub for youth and elder support. The project is supported by the Keelung City Government and was selected as a visiting site by Turner Prize winner Assemble during their visit to Taiwan.
• Participated as the co-founder.
• Link 1: https://www.villagetaipei.net/Post?PId=13382
  Link2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yg7pttS7hQ

Hi there, I’m ShunTe — a Climate & Culture Communicator dedicated to bridging the gap between climate science, community voices, contemporary art and cultural institutions.

My work spans climate advocacy, freelance writing, grassroots engagement, and recent collaborations with museums and artists to explore sustainability through exhibitions and storytelling.

In parallel, I’m also a full-time circular economy researcher and consultant, providing policy and strategic support to both public and private sectors in Taiwan. My focus includes circular transition, net-zero planning, and local government decarbonization.

My Medium serves as a casual portfolio where I share reflective and creative side of my work in climate and culture. For a more formal overview of my career, please visit my LinkedIn.

Highlighted Works

• Ice from the North and Salt Water from the South
• From Policy to Practice: Embedding Sustainability at Shihsanhang Museum
• Climate Futures in Fiction
• Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition (TWYCC)'s Presence and Missions in the International Dialogues on Climate Change

Archives

• Discover My Past Articles
• Selected Earlier Projects

(中文版文章連結)

One of the major challenges in communicating climate change lies in the temporal and spatial disconnection between actions and disasters: how to concretise future climate disasters, technologies, and social life in a way that persuades contemporary audiences to take action now, thereby preventing these disasters from affecting future generations. The “Climate Futures in Fiction” project addresses the growing communication gap between the public and policymakers amidst the global wave of net-zero transformation. This project incorporates discussions on future technologies, social dynamics, emotions, religion, and even rumors — dimensions that traditional forms of public engagement fail to reach.

The “Climate Futures in Fiction” project, spearheaded by Shun-Te Wang from 2019 to 2024, has continuously evolved through collaboration with various communities. This climate fiction (Cli-Fi) project can be divided into six stages: “Travel Books and Postcards,” “Cli-Fi Story Relay,” “Cli-Fi Novel Writing,” “Cli-Fi Drama at COP27,” “Cli-Fi Workshops,” and Gods of Water. Collaborators include the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition (TWYCC), Taiwan Research Institute, artist Kuang-Yi Ku, and climate scientist Yi-Chi Wang. The project initially aimed to assist Taiwanese youth in participating in the UN Climate Conference and has since expanded to include youth empowerment, net-zero public communication, speculative design, and climate fiction. The formats have also diversified from initial zines and postcards to include dramas, workshops, and contemporary art.

The “Cli-Fi Workshops” of this project received support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment in 2022, serving as one of the official youth social communication events for the 2050 Net-Zero strategy.

After 2023, the project was led by artist Kuang-Yi Ku. He employs the cli-fi methodology into courses at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and develop it into his art project Gods of Water, comprising three works: “God of Technology”, God of Weapons”, and God of Rumors”. Shun-Te participated in the development of Gods of Water as a scientist and scriptwriter, incorporating his experience with NGOs and think tanks to make Gods of Water a fictional art project that reflects Taiwan’s challenges in achieving a net-zero transition.

In 2024, the three works of Gods of Water were unveiled at the Hong-gah Museum, marking their complete public debut.

• Travel Guidebooks and Postcards:
  From 2019 to 2020, the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition promoted international youth collaboration through cli-fi projects, creating tourism guidebooks and postcards depicting Taiwan under climate disaster scenarios. (Link)
• Cli-Fi Story Relay:
  In 2021, the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition cooperated with artist Kuang-Yi Ku, utilising techniques such as sci-fi writing and speculative design to envision the lives of Taiwanese university students in 2100 after the net-zero transition.
• Cli-Fi Novel Writing:
  In 2022, the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition invited youth members to complete four cli-fi novels.
• Climate Action Drama:
  During COP27 in 2022, the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition simplified the Cli-Fi Story Relay process and invited international youth NGOs to co-write a cli-fi drama, which was filmed as a short video in Sharm el-Sheikh. (Link)
• Cli-Fi Workshops:
  Based on artist Kuang-Yi Ku’s “Future Press Lab,” these workshops guide participants through reading the IPCC AR6 Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), climate projections, and policy documents to create fictional news that reflects our net zero everyday life in 2050. The first workshop was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment in 2022, and the second was held during the Gods of Water: Kuang-Yi Ku Solo Exhibition in 2024. (Link)
• Gods of Water:
  Gods of Water is an ongoing art project by Kuang-Yi Ku. Through research and investigation on water-related disasters, the project proposes three hypotheses for a future society where the threat of water has led to three cult values: information, weapons, and media. Gods of Water includes three works: “God of Technology,” “God of Weapons,” and “God of Rumors,” as well as a series of public events(artist’s site, exhibition site).

(Link for English Version)

氣候變遷溝通的一大挑戰，在於行動與災害間的時空斷裂：如何將「未來」的氣候災害、科技及社會生活具象化，說服「當代」群眾奮起行動，阻止氣候災害降臨於「未來」世代。「氣候科幻社會溝通計畫」回應全球淨零轉型浪潮下，民眾與政策規劃者間逐漸擴大的溝通鴻溝，將傳統公民參與形式無法觸及的未來科技、社會、情感、宗教、甚至是謠言等多面向納入討論。

「氣候未來科幻計畫」是王順德自2019年至2024年間，持續與不同社群共同發展的計畫，大致可分為「旅遊書與明信片」、「氣候科幻故事接力」、「氣候科幻故事創作」、「氣候行動劇」、「氣候科幻工作坊」、「水之眾神」六個階段。合作單位包含青年氣候聯盟、台灣綜合研究院、藝術家顧廣毅、氣候科學家王懌琪等。最初定位為台灣青年參與聯合國氣候大會的國際合作計畫、而後發展出青年培力、淨零公眾溝通、推測設計、氣候科幻等不同面向。計畫也由最初的科幻旅遊明信片、話劇、工作坊、當代藝術等不同形式。

本計畫的「氣候科幻工作坊」，曾於2022年獲台灣環境部支持，作為2050淨零路徑藍圖的官方青年社會溝通活動；2023年後計畫由藝術家顧廣毅主導，將氣候科幻寫作模式引入國立陽明交通大學課程；另獲桃園科技藝術節以及文化部支持，將計畫發展為包含三件作品的「水之眾神」。王順德則將擔任氣候智庫幕僚所獲得的科學知識及實務經驗引入，並參與《謠言之神》的腳本寫作。

「水之眾神」完整作品2024年於鳳甲美術館首次展出。

• 旅遊小書與明信片：台灣青年氣候聯盟於2019年至2020年，以科幻題材促進國際青年合作，創作氣候災難下的台灣觀光旅遊明信片 (請參考連結)。
• 氣候科幻故事接力：台灣青年氣候聯盟於2021與藝術家顧廣毅合作，運用科幻寫作、推測設計等技巧，發想2100年淨零轉型後的台灣大學生生活。
• 氣候科幻故事創作：台灣青年氣候聯盟於2022年，邀請青年撰寫氣候科幻小說，共完成4篇作品。
• 氣候行動劇：台灣青年氣候聯盟於2022年COP27期間，將氣候科幻故事接力流程簡化，邀請國際青年一同撰寫劇本，並於現場拍攝短片(請參考連結)。
• 氣候科幻工作坊：以藝術家顧廣毅的「未來新聞寫作實驗室」為基礎，引導學員閱讀IPCC AR6的共享社會經濟路徑（Shared Socioeconomic Pathway）、氣候推估圖資、以及政策文件，發想未來淨零生活下的媒體焦點事件。2022年與環境部合作舉行第一場、2024年於「水之眾神」展期舉行第二場。
• 水之眾神：藝術家顧廣毅持續發展的計劃，對於「水」相關的災難進行研究調查，透過藝術與科學、推測設計與共享社會經濟路徑，提出未來社會對於水的威脅產生的三種價值觀崇拜，包含《科技之神》、《武器之神》、《謠言之神》三件作品(請參考藝術家網站、展覽連結)，以及一系列公眾活動。

“The Playbook for the King’s Cross Bun Project” is a collaborative effort between Shun-Te Wang and Yu-Ting Huang, with support from Dr. Maria Chang of the King’s Cross Bun Project. This playbook serves as a guiding document designed to assist the King’s Cross Bun Project, an initiative dedicated to promoting heritage grains in London, in formulating its organizational development plan.

During the pilot research, we identified the following as the most pressing organisational challenges for the King’s Cross Bun Project:

1. Struggling to effectively prioritize diverse funding and partnership opportunities.
2. Continuously adapting the organisational mission in response to funding opportunities.
3. Facing challenges in reconciling scientific and traditional perspectives on sustainable agriculture.

The playbook is crafted as a comprehensive two-part illustrated guide aimed at addressing the aforementioned challenges.

The first part entails a ‘modularised’ organisational blueprint. Departing from the conventional layered Vision-Goal-Impact approach, our playbook transforms Goals and Impacts into adaptable ‘blocks’. This innovative approach empowers organizers to assemble these blocks into distinct project proposals tailored to diverse funding and partnership opportunities, while ensuring coherence across different proposals. Each block is underpinned by pertinent scientific literature reviews or local historical research.

The second part comprises a project manager’s toolkit tailored specifically to the needs of the King’s Cross Bun Project. It encompasses detailed, step-by-step instructions for utilising tools such as user journey mapping, supplemented by a series of illustrative examples drawn from our case studies of NGOs with similar missions.

After the project concluded in February 2020, the Playbook became a staple operational tool for the King’s Cross Bun Project.

About the developers:

Shun-Te Wang | kokicola2000@gmail.com

Shun-Te was trained as a plant molecular biologist and a human geographer and had been involved in some community engagement projects in Taiwan. He aims to develop creative solutions to tackle environmental issues with his interdisciplinary backgrounds.

Erica Huang | hutingstudio@gmail.com

Erica is a service and experience designer with a particular interest in making sense of the complexities of challenges across our thriving society and planetary boundaries. She strives to keep a holistic approach by using ethnography research, systems analytical practices and co-creation design process, orchestrating the role of design within the real world that can play in strategy.

27. Air, Elections, and Conspiracy: The “Blade Runner” Chaos over London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone
Apr 29, 2025
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/241156
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/8606

26. How a rare Colombian flower cultivated with Indigenous know-how is changing lives (Translation)
Oct 24, 2024
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(translation of Mongabay’s article )
https://e-info.org.tw/node/240146
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/8571

25. Artistic and Cultural Trends Amid COP28: Creative Responses to Climate Action
Dec 12, 2023
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/238149
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/8453

24. Explaining Ecuador’s Referendum on Yasuní National Park Oil Extraction
Nov 24, 2023
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/238030
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/8441

23. Taiwan’s Changing Attitude on PLA Plastic Products
Oct 24, 2023
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/237831
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/8420

22. New Zealand Scientists’ Three Approaches to Reduce Methane Emissions from Livestock
May 2, 2023
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/236659
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/7371

21. Art and Climate Change: An Underdeveloped Field of Collaboration
Oct 12, 2022
CLABO, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://mag.clab.org.tw/clabo-article/the-cooperation-between-art-and-climate-change/

20. 15 Minute Cities- From Paris to Keelung City
Aug 16, 2022
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/234819
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/4283

19. What Will CDP Questionnaire Revision Affect Taiwanese Cities
Aug 1, 2022
Eye on Place
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://eyesonplace.net/2022/08/01/21251/

18. Exhibition Review: Gaia: Gene, algorithm, intelligent design, automata_A mirage self, The Other Realm
May 1, 2022
Artco Monthly & Investment
(only available as a print version. written in traditional Mandarin Chinese.)
https://artouch.com/

17. Why Does Science Fail to Appease People’s Minds: Finding Ways to Understand the Virus and the New World amidst Uncertainty
Feb 16, 2022
Chiayi Art Museum
(only available as a print version. written in traditional Mandarin Chinese and translated to English)
https://chiayiartmuseum.chiayi.gov.tw/PublicationDetailC006100.aspx?Cond=96ad26b4-08a1-437e-b906-20ccf1073906

16. Which Has Lower Carbon Emissions, Farmed or Offshore Seafood?
Aug 4, 2021
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/231886
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/3170

15. Krill at Risk of Survival
Jun 11, 2021
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/231413
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/3156

14. Are You Appropriating My Professional Knowledge into Your Interdisciplinary Project?: A Biologist’s Observations on Cultural Experiments
Apr 21, 2021
CLABO, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://mag.clab.org.tw/clabo-article/creators2020-7/

13. Fragmented Water: The Salmon’s Battle for Home in a Divided River
Mar 5, 2021
Environment Information Center/Delta Electronics Foundation
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://e-info.org.tw/node/229800
https://www.delta-foundation.org.tw/blogdetail/3118

12. Sharing Economy and Ningxia Night Market
Oct 24, 2020
Village Taipei, Urban Regeneration Office, Taipei City Government
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://www.villagetaipei.net/Post?PId=15131

11. Sharing Economy and Shared Public Spaces
Jul 9, 2020
Village Taipei, Urban Regeneration Office, Taipei City Government
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://www.villagetaipei.net/Post?PId=15088

10. Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition (TWYCC)’s Presence and Missions in the International Dialogues on Climate Change
Jun 22, 2020
Taiwan Insight, Taiwan Studies Programme, University of Nottingham
(online article written in English)
https://taiwaninsight.org/2020/06/22/taiwan-youth-climate-coalition-twyccs-presence-and-missions-in-the-international-dialogues-on-climate-change/

9. A Case Study of Two Shared Community Kitchen in Brixtion, London
Jun 9, 2020
Village Taipei, Urban Regeneration Office, Taipei City Government
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://www.villagetaipei.net/Post?PId=14995

8. A Political Gamble: Taiwan’s Kinmen Island and the Decision of Supporting the Central Government’s Coronavirus Prevention Measures
Mar 11, 2020
Taiwan Insight, Taiwan Studies Programme, University of Nottingham
(online article written in English)
https://taiwaninsight.org/2020/03/11/a-political-gamble-taiwans-kinmen-island-and-the-decision-of-supporting-the-central-governments-coronavirus-prevention-measures/

7. Asking ‘What It Does’ Rather Than ‘What It Is’: The Invisibility and Opportunity of Taiwan’s Role on the Global Health Stage
Apr 8, 2019
Taiwan Insight, Taiwan Studies Programme, University of Nottingham
(online article written in English)
https://taiwaninsight.org/2019/04/08/asking-what-it-does-rather-than-what-it-is-the-invisibility-and-opportunity-of-taiwans-role-on-the-global-health-stage/

6. Encountering the Largest-Ever University Strike in British History: Should I Cross the Picket Line to Attend a Meeting with the Professor?
Feb 28, 2018
The News Lens
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://www.thenewslens.com/article/90412
https://www.thenewslens.com/article/90593

5. Exploring Different Perspectives during Shida Night Market Controversy
Jan 1, 2015
Student’s magazine, Department of Music, National Taiwan Normal University
(only available as a print version. written in traditional Mandarin Chinese.)

4. On 2014 Taiwanese Election of Neighborhood Magistrate
Dec 6, 2014
Independent Critics of CommonWealth Magazine Online
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://opinion.cw.com.tw/blog/profile/52/article/2161

3. University Students’ Roles and Challenges During the Shida Night Market Controversy
Nov 30, 2013
“YunHe Life” Biweekly Newspaper of Community
(online article written in traditional Mandarin Chinese)
https://yunhelife.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-post_7315.html

2. Interview: Kunlunqixing Traditional Chinese Medicine Store
Nov 1, 2013
“YunHe Life” Biweekly Newspaper of Community
(only available as a print version. written in traditional Mandarin Chinese.)

1. Interview: Ho’s Dentist Clinic
Nov 1, 2013
“YunHe Life” Biweekly Newspaper of Community
(only available as a print version. written in traditional Mandarin Chinese.)

Our Events in Sharm el Sheikh

• Public Speech at COY17: Youth Climate Actions at Campus and the Challenges (article) (November 3, 2022)
• Street Theater Project at COY17: “Warming University” (article/video) (November 2–4, 2022)
• Public Speech at Sweden Pavilion: “COP27 Expectations on outcomes.” (video) (November 7, 2022)
• Public Speech at Climate Justice Pavillion: Youth Panel “Climate Justice, Climate Action and 21st-Century Climate Leadership”(event page) (November 10, 2022)
• Official COP27 Side Event: “Climate Education: Empowering Youth and Adults with knowledge and skills for a sustainable future” (video) (November 14, 2022)
• Public Speech at Korean Pavilion: “Asian Youth Dialogue on Methane Pledge” (article) (November 17, 2022)

Media Exposure

• Blog (Environmental Information Center): “Not only ‘Taiwan can Help’. What does COP27 mean for Taiwan?” (link) (Mandarin only) (October 31, 2022)
• Blog (Vision Project Organization): “Taiwan young people speak up for climate justice in COP27.”(link) (Mandarin only) (November 7, 2022)
• Live Interview (Global Views Monthly): “A Conversation With the Younger Generation.” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 8, 2022)
• News (Radio Taiwan International): “Taiwanese NGOs attend UN climate summit.” (link) (November 9, 2022)
• News (TVBS): “Young people from Taiwan participate in COP27.” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 11, 2022)
• Opinion (CommonWealth Magazine): “COP27: The Taiwanese view.” (link) (November 13, 2022)
• News (United Daily News): “Climate Justice faces great difficulties in COP27” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 15, 2022)
• News (PTS Taigi): “Taiwan announced Net Zero by 2050: How can we achieve it?” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 17, 2022)
• Blog (Vision Project Organization): “Just Energy Transition Program isn’t ‘just’ at all” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 21, 2022)
• Blog (Vision Project Organization): “Connecting Asian Climate Youths with our Street Theater Project in COP27” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 21, 2022)
• Blog (Vision Project Organization): “Kickstart youth dialogue on methane pledge in Korean Pavilion” (link) (Mandarin only) (November 21, 2022)

Hear from Our Delegates

(listen to full mandarin interview podcast on Spotify)

Regina Chang (Head of COP27 Delegation)

I have loved ancient culture since I was a child, so visiting Egypt is my dream. Too bad that I didn’t see pyramids.

The COP27 negotiation focused on starting a “Loss and Damage Fund”. On the other hand, not much progress happened on other topics that most people are looking forward to, such as Article 6. But I think Taiwan, as an export-oriented economy, should still pay attention to these issues (e.g. carbon tariffs, carbon fees) so we can be prepared for the international trend.

Unlike COP26, there was no climate march on Friday on the street. There were only small-scale events such as the anti-fossil fuel campaign organised by FFF Ukraine. The Egyptian government demands every public event apply in advance. And the events most take place inside the venue.

In terms of youth participation, this year a “Children & Youth Pavilion” was launched as an open space with comfortable tables and armchairs inside the COP venue. We met lots of youth organisations there. It’s a good place to meet up and network. Yet people were also concerned about “youthwashing”. Lots of pavilions invited youths to speak. But the impact depends on the organisers’ mindset. Do they really want to hear from us, or maybe they just need an icon?

For students who are interested in participating in COP in the future, you can start by acquiring related knowledge, such as the history of UNFCCC, the mandate of the summits, and the structures of UNFCCC, to understand who they are and how they work. And most importantly, try to combine it with your own expertise or interest. For example, how is your interested topic being discussed and developed internationally inside and outside the conference? With that in mind, then you can come to the venue and follow the latest trend.

Ellen Cheng (Deputy Head of COP27 Delegation)

Beginning from 2022, I joined the International Affairs Team’s Sunday training and discussed climate change issues with my teammates every week. I also summarise climate news on a bi-weekly basis, so I can keep up to date with my interested topics.

This year inside the venue, Taiwan had cooperated with some countries to demonstrate their achievements in their national pavilions. It is because Taiwan had been working with countries, such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, on agricultural technology exchange or other climate change-related projects. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, I think we are still responsible for climate change, since it’s an issue shared by the world, by all humankind.

We met youths from different parts of the world at the venue. But to my surprise, most of our meaningful engagements happened on shuttle buses. We spent almost two hours every day on a bus. So we started small talks with the passengers sitting next to us. They could be delegates of other organisations or even high-level national delegations! I remembered one of the delegations told us about how she felt about her job: Frustrated. Since they must stand for their government’s position. There is not much they can do.

For students who are interested in taking climate action, my first advice is to join student societies related to sustainability or climate change. You can meet like-minded youths and learn how to start actions. Secondly, you can urge your school to be responsible for climate change. Finally, join climate change empowerment projects, such as TWYCC’s Climate Education Team, so we can bring climate change to campus.

TWYCC COP27 Delegates

• Jia-Yi Lin: Project Manager of the International Affairs Team
• Regina Chang: Head of COP27 Delegation
• Ellen Cheng: Deputy Head of COP27 Delegation
• Natasha Wei: Leader of the Negotiation Team
• Ina Liao: Member of the the Negotiation Team
• Leon Yang: Member of Delegation

Authors: Shun-Te Wang and Hui-Shan-Hu
Editors: Regina Chang and Ellen Cheng

TWYCC@COP27: a Wrap Up was originally published in TWYCC Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition（台灣青年氣候聯盟） on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

During an official COP27 side event, our delegate joined as a panel speaker to share Taiwan’s experience on climate education and empowerment.

The side event ‘Climate Education: Empowering Youth and Adults with Knowledge and Skills for a Sustainable Future’ was co-hosted by four environment NGOs to discuss ‘links between climate education and opportunities from primary through adult education for civic engagement, economic opportunity, and just transitions.’ on 14 Nov in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Jia-Yi Lin, the project manager of the International Affairs Team, showcased TWYCC’s experience in climate education and empowerment, including our climate education project, youth networking project, and our participation in the policy-making process.

‘Along with other environmental NGOs in Taiwan, we have shared our idea and come up with a proposal for the amendment of the previous GHG emission reduction management act in recent years,’ Lin said.

The Taiwanese government had released a roadmap to achieve its pledge of 2050 net zero. The ongoing amendment of the ‘Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act’ aims to make net zero a legally binding target and prepare legal instruments to support the transition.

Lin believes youth’s contributions are essential to advance sustainability for the future. ‘The more the youth are engaged in the transitional process, the better we can prepare ourselves for our sustainable vision. So, when we join the labour market, we can become a “bridge” to a sustainable future and accelerate the transition of the industries,’ Lin said.

‘We need to leave nobody behind for a climate and generational justice future.’ Lin added.

You can watch the event playback via the following link:

Author: Shun-Te Wang

TWYCC Speak Up for More Inclusive Net Zero Transition in COP27 was originally published in TWYCC Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition（台灣青年氣候聯盟） on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.