Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is a goal shared by Taiwan and the world. As we face a net-zero transformation crossing generations, domains, and nations, we must promote the movement for net-zero living through collaboration between the public and private sectors and local communities. Therefore, the Promotional Division of the Executive Yuan's Net-zero Science and Technology Program Steering Committee solicits citizen groups to propose innovative net-zero technology solutions in five major areas. As a result of their efforts, an exhibition and forum titled "The Road to Net-Zero Living and Social Transformation - From Citizens' Initiatives to Innovative Practices" was held on Dec. 6. The event aimed to attract more citizen groups to take action to achieve net-zero emissions and encourage government ministries, local communities, enterprises, and academic and research institutions to initiate in-depth dialogues and open up more cooperative opportunities to enable Taiwan to move forward toward its goal of a net-zero society.

NSTC Minister Tsung-Tsong Wu stated that the Net-zero Science and Technology Program is people-oriented; in the process of promoting the transformation of life and society, civil groups are a very important force, and their voices and innovative R&D capabilities should not be ignored. It is hoped that through citizen groups taking the initiative to propose innovative net-zero technology solutions, and with assistance from professional third parties, public-private partnerships will pROVide, design, or innovate existing net-zero channels and experience, conduct experiments, and make efforts to propose service models or solutions that are verifiable and scalable so as to expand citizen participation and implement net-zero, green living and a just transformation.

At the Dec. 6 event, 14 civic organizations were invited to present their preliminary results in the areas of sustainable, future-oriented energy, low carbon and carbon reduction, carbon negative solutions, the circular economy, and humanities and social sciences. Among these included a proposal from Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation aiming to introduce green power wheeling in sheltered workshops to help them implement green transformation, which can be used as a model for net-zero transformation in social welfare organizations. Another proposal, put forward by an organic farming cooperative in Yilan County, promotes the use of carbonized rice husks for agricultural carbon reduction. Through the incorporation of carbonized rice husk technology and net-zero agricultural education, rice husks that would be agricultural waste instead become carbonized cultivatable soil. Community participation in the operations and planning of the program is also promoted. In addition to the display of posters and objects to illustrate proposal ideas and concepts, representatives from industry, government, academia, and research institutes were also invited to give speeches and participate in seminars to share net-zero transformation strategies and success stories. 

Citizen Group Innovation Demos & Pilot Projects