AGP Executive Report

Litter and Oceans: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry will bring the Japanese sport Spogomi to Taiwan, turning litter collection into a team competition to help keep trash from flowing into the sea. Climate Action: Taiwan says it is putting its 2035 emissions targets into practice through greener industry, resource recycling and climate adaptation, and is seeking a greater role in global climate efforts. Farming Under Pressure: Taiwan’s tea growers are rethinking cultivation as climate pressures intensify; a separate proposal highlights how Taiwan could share its climate-adaptation expertise with Türkiye. Storm Damage: Typhoon Champi brought destructive winds and extreme rainfall to Taiwan, injuring hundreds, flooding communities and disrupting flights. Wildlife and Land: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in a restored creek, while advocates are urging protection for grassland owls threatened by a proposed Shalun science park.

Forest Protection: An 83-year-old Kaohsiung activist known as “Forest Grandma” is running for city council to oppose a development plan that could clear about 154 hectares of woodland. Wastewater Innovation: National Ilan University professor Wang Chin-tsan won a Paris award for research combining AI and microbial fuel cells to clean wastewater and generate electricity. Climate-ready Farming: Taiwan’s tea growers are rethinking cultivation as climate pressures intensify, with some letting nature take a greater role. Wildlife Recovery: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in a restored creek, offering a sign of progress for habitat restoration. Typhoon Impacts: Typhoon Champi killed one person and prompted mass evacuations in Taiwan, underscoring the island’s exposure to extreme weather.

Climate Diplomacy: A commentary ahead of COP31 argues Taiwan could share climate-adaptation expertise with Türkiye, turning international pledges into practical action. Urban Resilience: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry and Taipei Tech have launched a smart urban-forest project, using data and digital modelling to guide tree management and assess cooling benefits for pedestrians. Wildlife Protection: Conservationists want 11.29 hectares of grassland habitat for eastern grass owls excluded from a planned Tainan science park development; the project’s environmental review has asked developers to assess avoiding key wildlife hotspots. Extreme Weather: Typhoon Champi killed one person and forced more than 1,200 people to evacuate as it battered Taiwan with heavy rain and destructive winds.

Climate Action: Taiwan is pressing to turn its 2035 emissions targets into practical steps on green industry, resource reuse and climate adaptation, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming says, while calling for stronger international cooperation. Farming: Tea growers are rethinking how they farm as climate pressures intensify, with some letting nature reclaim parts of their land. Wildlife: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in a restored creek, offering a hopeful sign for habitat recovery. Extreme Weather: Typhoon Champi battered Taiwan last week, killing one person and prompting evacuations as torrential rain and flooding threatened the island.

Climate Action: Taiwan’s environment minister urged countries to turn climate pledges into measurable results, saying Taiwan is putting its 2035 emissions targets into practice through industrial transition, resource circulation and adaptation. Climate-Smart Farming: Tea growers are rethinking practices as heat and rainfall pressures intensify, with some allowing nature to play a greater role in cultivation. Typhoon Recovery: Typhoon Champi battered Taiwan, prompting evacuations and widespread flight and school disruptions as the island faced heavy rain and flood risks. Wildlife: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in a restored creek, offering a bright sign for habitat recovery. Waste Reduction: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry is also working with partners to promote greener packaging.

Climate Diplomacy: Taiwan is urging meaningful participation in UN climate talks, pointing to three straight years of falling emissions and targets for deeper cuts by 2030 and 2035. Climate-Smart Farming: Alishan tea grower Lin Kuang-li says decades of pesticide-free farming have restored his soil as climate pressures mount on the region’s tea industry. Extreme Weather: Typhoon Champi killed at least one person, injured 527 and left about 288,000 homes without power as it battered Taiwan and nearby islands. Nature Recovery: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in a restored creek, while Greenpeace warns that extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites and tourism.

Climate-Smart Farming: Alishan tea growers are turning to pesticide-free and wild-grown methods as climate pressures and depleted soils threaten production. Urban Waterways: A Taipei mayoral candidate proposed restoring riverfronts, using wetlands and vegetation to improve water quality, and adding small flood-retention areas in schools and parks. Wildlife Recovery: A survey found 117 endangered Formosan landlocked salmon in Sijielan Creek, with courtship suggesting natural spawning may begin soon. Road Safety and Wildlife: Taiwan’s roadkill network wants AI to flag collision hotspots and issue alerts; animal-related crashes have caused thousands of reported accidents annually. Extreme Weather: Typhoon Champi left one person dead and more than 500 injured in Taiwan before moving toward South Korea and Japan. Greenpeace also warned that extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites and tourism.

Wildlife Safety: Taiwan’s Roadkill Observation Network is proposing AI to identify animal-collision hotspots and send early warnings. It says about 3,000 animal-related crashes are reported each year, most involving motorcycles. Habitat Recovery: Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon are thriving in restored Sijielan Creek, where a survey counted 117 adults and observed courtship that could lead to natural spawning. Climate-Smart Farming: Alishan tea growers are trying pesticide-free and wild-grown methods as climate pressures and depleted soils threaten production. Storm Aftermath: Typhoon Champi left one person dead and more than 500 injured in Taiwan, with evacuations and transport disruption.

Typhoon Damage: Champi left one person dead and more than 500 injured in Taiwan, with northern areas facing a second day of closures after winds toppled trees and power lines. Climate Resilience: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry is proposing a US$19 billion plan to prepare for extreme heat, floods, heavy rain and drought, prioritizing vulnerable residents and essential services. Climate groups say the draft lacks clear targets and stronger coordination across agencies. Heritage at Risk: Greenpeace warns extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Climate-Smart Crops: Taiwan’s World Vegetable Center joined South Korean researchers in testing heat tolerance in Chinese cabbage, using 3D scans to track how plants respond to high temperatures.

Typhoon Aftermath: Typhoon Champi killed one person, injured more than 600 and forced over 5,000 people from their homes in Taiwan. Power was knocked out to more than 340,000 households, while heavy rain, fallen trees and flight cancellations disrupted daily life. Climate Resilience: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry is proposing a US$19 billion plan for extreme heat, flooding, drought and stronger infrastructure. Climate groups warn the draft lacks clear goals and say agencies need to work together more closely. Heritage at Risk: Greenpeace says extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites and puts about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Heat-Ready Crops: Researchers including Taiwan’s World Vegetable Center studied how Chinese cabbage varieties respond to heat, using 3D scans to track plant changes and identify traits that could support more resilient crops.

Climate Resilience: Taiwan’s Environment Ministry is proposing a US$19 billion plan to prepare for extreme heat, floods, drought and heavier rain. The draft brings together 16 agencies, but climate groups say it lacks clear targets and stronger coordination. Typhoon Champi: The storm killed one person, injured more than 600 and forced over 5,000 people to evacuate; more than 340,000 households lost power, and flights were widely cancelled. Heritage at Risk: Greenpeace warns that extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Urban Wildlife: A photo of a Formosan blue magpie carrying a coat hanger through Taipei has reached the Wildlife Photographer of the Year finals, drawing attention to urban biodiversity. Heat-Ready Crops: Researchers including Taiwan’s World Vegetable Center identified four heat-tolerance strategies in Chinese cabbage seedlings, offering clues for adapting crops to rising temperatures.

Typhoon Aftermath: Champi moved north after killing one person and injuring more than 600 in Taiwan. More than 5,000 people were evacuated, and over 340,000 households lost power. Coastal swells and strong gusts remained a concern as the storm departed. Climate Exposure: Greenpeace says extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Waste Reduction: Taiwan’s environment ministry and retailers have introduced 350 green-packaged products, aiming for 1,000 within two years to curb packaging waste. Urban Wildlife: A photo of a Formosan blue magpie nesting with a coat hanger has reached a global wildlife photography final, drawing attention to biodiversity in Taipei’s rapidly developing urban areas.

Typhoon Threat: Champi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Taiwan, closing schools, offices and markets, disrupting flights and prompting more than 2,000 people to evacuate. One person was reported killed; forecasters warned of extreme rainfall and flooding. Urban Wildlife: A photograph of a Formosan blue magpie carrying a coat hanger through Taipei made the finals of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, drawing attention to wildlife adapting to city life. Climate Finance: Cathay Financial Holdings outlined efforts to make climate projects more attractive to investors through risk management, partnerships and better data. Heritage at Risk: Greenpeace says extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk.

Typhoon Response: Typhoon Champi brought destructive waves, heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan, killing one person and injuring 94. More than 1,200 people were evacuated, while schools and businesses closed and hundreds of flights were cancelled. Forecasters warned that prolonged downpours could raise flood and landslide risks. Climate and Heritage: Greenpeace warned that extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting an estimated NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Mountain Safety: Alishan’s recreation area and forest railway closed ahead of the storm, underscoring the risks severe weather poses to Taiwan’s mountain communities and natural areas.

Typhoon Watch: Champi is forecast to pass near northeastern Taiwan, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and waves over six metres; mountain areas could receive up to 900mm of rain. Flights have been canceled, and Alishan’s recreation area and forest railway are set to close as authorities prepare for impacts. Climate Risks: Greenpeace warns that extreme weather threatens Tainan’s Anping heritage sites, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Environmental Justice: A study revisits Orchid Island’s decades-long burden as a storage site for low-level nuclear waste, highlighting Tao residents’ concerns over how the project was presented to the community. Wildlife: Two foreign visitors are under investigation after allegedly touching a protected green sea turtle in Taiwan.

Typhoon Preparedness: Champi is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and waves to Taiwan through Saturday. The Alishan Forest Recreation Area, most of its railway and nearby trails will close Friday amid rockfall risks; authorities warn of up to 900 mm of rain in northern mountain areas. Clean Energy: All 73 Hai Long offshore wind turbines are now generating power, while Taiwanese solar manufacturers have formed an alliance around back-contact TOPCon technology. President Lai says nuclear power remains under consideration, keeping Taiwan’s energy choices in focus. Wildlife Protection: Two foreign visitors are being investigated for touching a protected green sea turtle in Taiwan.