TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOENV) and the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) joined forces for a coastal cleanup on Saturday (Sept. 21), coinciding with World Cleanup Day and International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Both days fall on the third Saturday in September. A group of 170 people, including MOENV Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Deputy Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中), EETO Head of Office Lutz Gullner, representatives from 16 EU member states, and officials from MOFA, National Property Administration, New Taipei City Government, and the MOENV participated in cleaning up the northern bank of New Taipei’s Bali coastline, according to MOENV.
Gullner emphasized the global nature of climate change and expressed his admiration for Taiwan's shared environmental values with the EU. He led the EETO staff and MOENV in a hands-on coastal cleanup, highlighting the importance of ocean conservation and encouraging public participation.
Peng said Taiwan and the EU shared economic ties and other common values on a range of issues. He emphasized the EETO and EU member states' involvement in the cleanup was a powerful statement not only about environmental action, but also about the urgent need for public awareness regarding climate change, the environmental, and plastic pollution.
The event used the International Coastal Cleanup survey method to analyze the types of trash collected. By collecting and sorting the garbage, researchers can understand the distribution and trends of different types of waste along Taiwan's coastline.
The Cabinet's “Salute to the Seas” policy, introduced in 2020, has led to a substantial reduction in coastal waste. The estimated amount of coastal waste dropped from 2,294 tons in 2019 to 940 tons in 2023, a 60% reduction.
A third-quarter survey found that coastal waste in Taiwan has decreased by 70% since 2020. The government plans to invest NT$5.9 billion (US$184.4 million) over the next four years to continue these efforts.
The EETO, established in 2003, is the official EU representative in Taiwan. It oversees all aspects of the EU-Taiwan relationship, per Linkedin.
