Taiwan’s first net-zero academy opens in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung, Nov. 6 (CNA) Taiwan’s first educational institution dedicated to cultivating green talent to help implement the country’s net-zero goal by 2050 opened on Monday at the Kaohsiung Software Technology Park.

The “Net Zero Institute” was designed to launch three major types of courses: general education, certification, and technology, the Kaohsiung City government said in a statement.

Its first students will include heads of government departments, senior government officials, and elected officials, according to the statement.

According to the new institute, in terms of certification courses, it has collaborated with three major international certification and inspection bodies to finalize more than 50 courses regarding carbon inventory and foot printing training.

The institute aims to cultivate 1,600 carbon management professionals with ISO certifications every year, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said before the opening ceremony.

Teachers include experts in areas of carbon inventory, technology, energy, artificial intelligence, carbon assets, carbon sink, and local promotion, Chen added.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said she was pleased to see the joint establishment of the institute by the Kaohsiung and other local governments to help cultivate green talent and lay the foundation for accelerating the transition to net zero.

Tsai said that to reach the 2050 goal, Taiwan has gradually put in place related policies, legal regulations, a net-zero emissions pathway, and green finance; and she hoped that local governments will work together with the central government towards net-zero carbon emissions.

The Kaohsiung City government said it has talked with several local governments in southern Taiwan, Taitung in the east and the outlying Penghu on course planning in order to map out classes that cater to their needs.

Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復), who was also present at the opening ceremony, said that the county has led the country to complete carbon foot printing training for government personnel and is looking to work with other cities and counties to move towards the net-zero goal.