[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              URGING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE UNFCCC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2011

  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the leaders of the 
United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, to 
allow for Taiwan's meaningful participation.
  As climate change continues to impact our world and as we face the 
prospect of dwindling oil reserves, Taiwan's renewable-energy section 
is growing rapidly. Taiwan has invested heavily in turbines generating 
electricity, use of alternatives to fossil fuels and possibilities of 
harnessing energy from the ocean. Taiwan is also the fourth largest 
producer of solar cells in the world.
  Moreover, Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration, EPA, is 
doing everything possible to promote environmental sustainability. For 
instance, Taiwan has made significant strides in waste management, with 
the nation's overall recycling rate reaching almost 42 percent in 2008.
  Improving air quality, reducing noise pollution and vehicular 
emissions and protecting wildlife are also top priorities for the 
government and people of Taiwan. Taiwan is totally committed to 
protecting the environment and reducing pollution. But due to political 
factors, Taiwan is not a UNFCCC contracting party. Instead, they are 
considered a non-governmental organization observer under the name 
Industrial Technology Research Institute and are not permitted to 
participate in either the discussions over the post-Kyoto mechanism or 
the international carbon market.
  I hope that the UNFCCC leaders will see the wisdom of Taiwan's need 
to participate in the UNFCCC and the post-Kyoto mechanism, especially 
considering that Taiwan and its environment are vulnerable to climate 
change and need to avoid the negative impacts on its economy and trade. 
Taiwan is an important part of the world economy and should be able to 
provide direct input to the UNFCCC, and I would ask the UNFCCC leaders 
to allow meaningful participation from Taiwan.

                          ____________________