The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will convene this November in Belém, Brazil. On August 15, Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment held a press conference titled “Climate Action with Youth” to launch the “2050 Net-Zero Generation” initiative and announced the selection of several young scholars and student representatives. Among them is Chen-Yen Chang, Policy Analyst of the Energy Security and Climate Resilience Program at the Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology (DSET), who will represent Taiwan’s youth in international climate action discussions.
As one of the selected youth delegates, Chang emphasized: “Climate change is often regarded as a crisis, but for Taiwan—currently undergoing a critical transition toward net zero—it also presents an opportunity. By actively engaging in the COP30 negotiations and shaping Taiwan’s own energy narrative, we can respond to global decarbonization demands while safeguarding national competitiveness and long-term sustainability.”
Chang further noted that the current geopolitical context makes Taiwan’s energy transition all the more urgent. Through youth participation in international forums, Taiwan can strengthen its voice in global energy governance, enhancing both the legitimacy of its policies and the competitiveness of its future industries.
Minister of Environment Chi-Ming Peng remarked that while he understands international realities, he hopes the global community will provide Taiwan greater opportunities to participate in COP30. He stressed that young people are at the core of advancing climate action. The government is encouraging youth involvement through initiatives such as online climate courses for high school students, teacher training programs, and university campus outreach, aiming to bolster the capacity of the “2050 Net-Zero Generation.”
Professor Shin-Cheng Yeh, who also attended the event, underscored that climate change is interconnected with all disciplines and industries. He noted that the engagement of young people will determine Taiwan’s ability to face increasingly severe challenges over the next 10 to 20 years. Youth delegates from diverse backgrounds also voiced their eagerness to attend COP30, including doctoral student Lo-Yi Chen from National Taiwan University, who expressed hopes of exchanging experiences with Brazil’s Indigenous communities on how to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Photo provided by Climate Change Administration, Ministry of Environment