Taiwan holds 2024 International Ocean Forum

台灣舉辦2024國際海洋論壇

Countries work together to promote blue carbon, biodiversity, net-zero emissions


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 2024 Taiwan International Ocean Forum on Tuesday (Oct. 8) brought together domestic and international leaders and experts to discuss the restoration and protection of blue carbon ecosystems in the face of global climate change.

Themed “Net-Zero and Ocean Future,” the event was co-hosted by Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) and the Tainan City Government in Tainan. The forum has been an annual event since its inception in 2019, focusing on important maritime issues, OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said.

The forum has evolved into a significant platform for academic, industrial, and governmental sectors in the Asia-Pacific region to collaborate with international experts. This year's event was a tribute to the local government's "Tainan 400" celebration.

Kuan noted, “We aim to showcase Taiwan's commitment and contributions to sustainable ocean development by leveraging Tainan's rich cultural heritage and diverse wetland and coastal ecosystems." She said that, as an island nation, Taiwan's oceans serve as the foundation for its economic development and are crucial resources for addressing climate change.

The forum, which featured more than 20 speakers from over 10 countries, delved into various policy and technological approaches to achieving net-zero emissions. These perspectives included both academic and practical viewpoints.

Experts and scholars from Taiwan, India, Indonesia, the US, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia conducted in-depth discussions on blue carbon, biodiversity, and sustainable ocean development. The event catalyzed international communication.

Numerous foreign mission representatives attended the event. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Tuvalu prepared opening performances.

The OAC has been actively implementing various initiatives to safeguard Taiwan's blue carbon and marine resources. These efforts include enacting the Marine Conservation Act, amending the Marine Pollution Control Act, and establishing a marine pollution fund to support diverse research, conservation, restoration, and educational endeavors.

Blue carbon is the term for carbon captured by the ocean and coastal ecosystems. These natural systems help reduce the effects of greenhouse gases by absorbing carbon dioxide, released by human activities, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Coastal habitat conservation is crucial for combating climate change. Preserving these ecosystems helps prevent the release of large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, which leads to significant carbon emissions and global warming.

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes, can store five to ten times more carbon than tropical rainforests. In recent years, the Ocean Conservation Administration of the OAC has actively implemented various conservation measures.

Ecological surveys were conducted in Tainan’s Beimen, Jiangjun, and Anping districts. As a major distribution area for mangroves, Tainan is a critical region for protecting blue carbon ecosystems.

Kuan hoped Taiwan would collaborate with the international community to achieve net-zero emissions. “The ocean is not a barrier that separates us but a bridge that connects like-minded partners,” Kuan said.