Date: May 3, 2014

The Climate Change Legislation Roundtable Seminar was hosted by PLES coordinator,

Professor Jiunn-rong Yeh. Professor Yeh marked the start of our roundtable seminar by giving us an opening speech.

Professor Yeh started that throughout all the issues of legislation, the uniqueness of climate change legislation is that, most of the regulation of climate change issues took place in international occasions. Efforts accumulated through treaties and protocols signed by international parties and annual assembly of contracting parties. Nationwide, however, there are issues of policy controversy as to whether the party should sign, or follow the international treaties and protocols.

The international levels of climate change regulations and negotiations often affect, move or promote domestic legislation. There are some countries that have a longer history of climate change legislation, Japan and Switzerland, for example. These countries had shown the citizen’s will and active international involvement through climate change legislation, as opposed to passively obeying the obligations of the treaties and protocols, especially in Switzerland, where it has a long history as a neutralized state. Switzerland was generally less active in joining international organization because of its neutralized state; however, Switzerland had shown its determination to fight climate change by legislating climate change regulations a long time ago, and this could be a great example for Taiwan.

While Taiwan isn’t a contracting party of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we have fewer opportunities in involving in climate change issues. As we don’t have legislation pressure from international community, we have no movement on climate change legislation. Our government has given us blank policies on climate change issues, despite the fact that there has been plenty of calling for related policies.

Professor Yeh hoped that with the legal academic community collecting and accumulating studies of climate change subjects, there could be a difference for climate change issues this year. Our purpose for this roundtable seminar isn’t just about researching and discussing climate change legislation, our aim is to provide a legislation draft and White Paper with abundant research foundation and scientific thinking. We hope to engage in more lobbying and persuasion in legislation, to make a substantial contribution for climate change management in Taiwan and international community.