Taiwan is a country rich in natural resources, but how can these resources be tapped, managed and utilized responsibly? In this issue, we look at some of the ways in which Taiwan is moving towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Earth Day on TaiwanPlus

A Plant with a Thousand Uses: Makino Bamboo 

What do a bridge over a river, a kendo sword, a cup, and a nutritious delicacy all have in common? They all derive from one of Taiwan’s botanical wonders, Makino bamboo! It can grow at 25cm per day and reaches maturity in just three months. The indigenous Tayal people of Taiwan have used Makino bamboo for centuries and have developed a sustainable system of responsible harvesting. Watch now and discover the versatility of this incredible plant.

Power From the Earth

With a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Taiwan is looking to develop all forms of green energy. Micro-hydro is one source being utilised to create sustainable power without sacrificing ecosystems. Additionally, thanks to its location on the pacific ring of fire, Taiwan has plentiful geothermal resources and the government is now subsidizing geothermal exploration, looking to really drive green energy growth. Watch this report for more information.

The Nuclear Debate

With Taiwan’s last remaining nuclear power station scheduled for decommissioning this year, can green energy really take up the slack? The debate rages as to whether Taiwan should extend and increase nuclear power’s role in the energy mix, or redouble its efforts on green energy, with fossil fuels filling the gap before green initiatives come online. Understand all sides of the argument here.

When surveys showed that almost 70% of rubbish that was washing up on Taiwan’s beaches came from the fishing industry, activists, volunteers and academics joined with government institutions to try to tackle the issue at source. Taiwan became the first country to roll out an innovative marine waste buy-back scheme and has also set about ramping up the recycling technology for this specific kind of waste. Check out the full story here.