The Environmental Protection Bureau of Tainan City Government was ranked as Excellent in the 2017 Local Government Environmental Protection Performance Assessment conducted by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). The Bureau was also assessed as Excellent in the Performance Assessment of Encouraging Local Businesses and Groups to Implement Green Procurement Plans, and Water Pollution Prevention. The award ceremony was held today (June 12) by the EPA. Environmental Protection Bureau Director Lin Chien-san thanked Tainan city’s citizens and environmental protection volunteers for their efforts. Without them Tainan city would not be able to improve its living environment and earn the recognition from the EPA.
The award ceremony was held in the EPA Lounge. Tainan city was ranked Excellent in the Special Municipality and Local County (City) Government Environmental Protection Performance Assessment, the Performance Assessment of Encouraging Local Businesses and Groups to Implement Green Procurement Plans, and in the Ocean Category and River Category of the Water Pollution Prevention Performance Assessment.
This year marks the fourth year of the “Clear Sky Project”, an inter-departmental project launched by the Environmental Protection Bureau to reduce particulate pollutants in the atmosphere. This project includes 45 regulation and control programs which aim to reduce air pollution from the source and are all supported by the Mayor. The project also introduced Taiwan’s first public construction environmental protection contract which requires the contractor to include an environmental protection budget, actions such as adopt nearby roads and cover barren land, and penalty clauses into the contract.
The year before last year, the Environmental Protection Bureau successfully coached the first livestock farm in Taiwan to use biogas slurry and residue as farmland fertilizer. In addition to further promoting similar projects last year, the Bureau rolled out a lot of water pollution management policies and has effectively mitigated river pollution. Ocean pollution prevention and emergency response strategies have also been successful. Anping Harbor obtained international certification as an eco-harbor, and the Bureau also launched an innovative policy to promote green harbor concepts and encourage fishermen to recycle on fishing boats by offering prizes when they bring in recyclable resources.
PV panels are set up on closed landfills to fully leverage the ample sunshine in southern Taiwan. Up to March this year, they have generated 2.45 million kWh of energy which can supply 700 households for a whole year, and simultaneously reducing 1,276 tonnes of carbon emission. The amount of energy generated at these landfills is the highest in Taiwan. The Bureau also works with customs, prosecutors, and the police to inspect and penalize illegal waste import and export to effectively prevent criminal activities related to environmental protection. Out of the 100 cases inspected within the year, 50 cases were reported cases, in 9 cases the operations were ordered to shutdown, and 6 cases were prosecuted.
By leveraging local cultural traits and community resources, the Environmental Protection Bureau has effectively and successfully promoted localized environmental protection education, and coached communities to transform their environment. The Bureau also actively encourages businesses to apply for carbon footprint certifications, and promote green consumption in collaboration with environmental protection and carbon footprint certification businesses. Performances on promoting green procurement (in both public and private sectors) are also ranked as number one in Taiwan.