2025-05-30

Smart Governance × Citizen Participation: Taiwan Cities Showcase Sustainability Achievements at the World Local Government Climate Summit

Taiwan’s local governments are stepping onto the global stage of climate action, actively sharing experiences and forging partnerships. In April 2025, several Taiwanese cities—invited and supported by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability—participated in the World Local Governments Climate Summit in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea.

New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, and Kaohsiung City showcased pioneering initiatives in smart governance, citizen participation, and energy transition, while Taichung and Tainan joined city networking activities. Collectively, they underscored Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to sustainability and climate neutrality.

The summit gathered over 1,600 participants from 44 countries, including 82 local governments from 29 nations, with 30 mayors and 11 deputy mayors attending in person. Discussions focused on science-based carbon neutrality, climate economy transition, multilevel governance, and nature-positive living. Leaders also adopted the Joint Declaration of the World Local Governments Climate Summit, which will be formally submitted at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, calling on cities worldwide to advance climate neutrality and inclusive governance.

 

New Taipei City: Building a Resilient Net Zero Model with Smart Technology

CR-New Taipei City

Deputy Mayor Her-Ran Liou introduced New Taipei’s AI-powered Smart Flood Prevention Platform, which integrates sky radars, rain gauges, flood sensors, and CCTV systems to deliver real-time alerts and rapid response—enhancing disaster prevention and resilience against extreme rainfall and typhoons.

As the ICLEI East Asia Executive Committee’s representative for Resilience Portfolio, New Taipei reaffirmed its role in advancing the São Paulo Strategic Vision 2024–2030.

In the thematic session Community-led renewable energy projects, the city highlighted its community-led energy efficiency solution—Energy-Saving E-House Program. By linking incentives with community action, New Taipei empowers residents to adopt energy efficiency measures and sustainable lifestyles. Deputy Mayor Liou joined Fort Collins (USA) Mayor Jennifer Arndt, representatives from Sinan County (Korea), and San Francisco Municipality (Philippines) to discuss the role of citizen engagement in achieving carbon neutrality.

 

Kaohsiung City: Driving Decarbonization and Climate Neutrality in the Asia-Pacific

CR-ICLEI

Led by EPB Director Chang, Jui-Hun, Kaohsiung presented Towards a Low-Carbon Energy Structure: The Kaohsiung Experience during the session Policies and technologies for decentralised energy systems.

Once a heavy-industry hub, Kaohsiung joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance in 2020. It is now phasing out coal-fired units at Hsinta Power Plant and introducing ammonia co-firing and hydrogen technologies. By 2029, coal will be fully phased out at all 15 CHP plants.

Kaohsiung is also advancing hydrogen steelmaking, clean petrochemicals, and RE100 commitments in the electronics sector, while deploying AI, CCUS, rooftop solar, waste-to-energy upgrades, small hydro, and biogas projects to create community-level net zero models.

During the summit, Kaohsiung engaged in in-depth discussions with ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin to advance the Kaohsiung–ICLEI Climate Neutral & Smart Cities Community of Practice Initiative. As lead city, Kaohsiung will work with 15 Asia-Pacific cities on concrete cooperation plans, turning climate innovations, energy transition, circular economy, green finance, and sustainable mobility into tangible community practices.

 

Taoyuan City: Empowering Environmental Governance with AI

CR-Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan City Government

Represented by Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Secretary Huang Mei-Chun and Section Chief Hsieh Yu-Chen, Taoyuan City shared its Intelligent Construction Dust Management System (ICDMS) in the session AI and data-driven solutions, MRV systems.

Using real-time image recognition and cloud data, the system automatically adjusts water spraying, reducing dust while optimising water use. It won the Taiwan Mobile Excellence Award – Sustainable Cities (Silver, 2024) and the Taoyuan City Government Innovation Award, and was showcased at the 9th Asia Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development.

In the same session, Taoyuan exchanged insights with Goyang City Mayor Lee Dong-Hwan, the Korea Research Institute, and the Google-funded DRYADS AI platform, highlighting AI’s role in climate prediction, MRV tools, and citizen engagement.

Taiwan Cities Amplifying Global Impact

Alongside New Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taoyuan, Taichung and Tainan also actively participated in summit activities, strengthening cross-border cooperation.

Through ICLEI’s global platform, the summit showcased Taiwan’s achievements in net zero transition, citizen participation, and smart governance—providing valuable policy insights and best practices for Asia-Pacific cities and beyond.

[World Local Government Climate Summit Joint Declaration ]

 [Summaries and Highlights of Taiwan Cities’ Participation]