The "2026 Asia-Pacific and Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards Joint Ceremony" was held during the opening ceremony of the Fifth Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo, recognizing outstanding organizations honored by the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards (APSAA) and the Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards (TSAA). Representatives from government agencies, businesses, universities and colleges, healthcare institutions, and civil society organizations gathered at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 to celebrate the remarkable achievements of sustainability initiatives across Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.

The event brought together an impressive gathering of distinguished guests, including President Lai, National Security Council Secretary-General Wu, and senior officials from central government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Environment, National Development Council, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Education. Local governments were represented by mayors, county magistrates, deputy heads, and numerous department directors. Senior representatives from industry, education, and healthcare also attended, including 13 chairpersons and vice chairpersons, 17 general managers, 30 university and college presidents and vice presidents, and 20 hospital superintendents and vice superintendents. In addition, dozens of corporate executives, including vice general managers and chief executive officers, participated in the ceremony, demonstrating the strong commitment of industry, government, academia, research, and healthcare sectors to sustainable development.

Ambassador Chien: From a Technological Taiwan and Democratic Taiwan to a Sustainable Taiwan

TAISE Chairman and Ambassador Chien stated that global sustainable development is entering the era of "ESG 2.0," in which net-zero emissions, energy, security, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, supply chains, and the natural environment are increasingly interconnected, continuously redefining the competitiveness of nations and businesses.

Ambassador Chien emphasized that sustainability cannot rely solely on governments or a small number of large corporations. Instead, it requires the collective participation of government, businesses, healthcare institutions, educational organizations, and the general public. From policy frameworks and industrial transformation to everyday practices, every organization can draw upon its expertise and operating environment to translate sustainability into concrete action. Only when initiatives across different sectors become interconnected and continue to accumulate can they generate the collective momentum needed to advance a "Sustainable Taiwan."

President Lai: Advancing Net-Zero Transformation Through Resilience and Innovation

President Lai attended the opening ceremony and stated that, in response to climate change, geopolitical developments, and the restructuring of global supply chains, Taiwan must strengthen its national resilience and leverage innovation to create new opportunities for sustainable transformation.

President Lai stated that the government continues to advance energy transition and net-zero policies. Annual electricity generation from offshore wind power has reached approximately 10 billion kilowatt-hours, while Taiwan is moving toward its target of reducing carbon emissions by 28% ± 2% by 2030. With the implementation of the carbon fee system, the government will not only take the lead in reducing emissions but also continue assisting businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in pursuing digital and net-zero dual transformation. By leveraging Taiwan's technological strengths, the government also aims to bring its sustainability experience and innovative solutions to the world, positioning Taiwan as a partner and solution provider for global sustainable development.

Representatives from Six Government Agencies Present Awards in Recognition of Cross-Sector Sustainability Achievements

This year's awards ceremony invited representatives from six central government agencies to present awards, including Deputy Minister Wu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Ho of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Deputy Minister Yeh of the Ministry of Environment, Deputy Minister Kao of the National Development Council, Deputy Minister Lin of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Deputy Minister Liu of the Ministry of Education. Each presented awards to outstanding sustainability role models across different sectors.

The ceremony was also closely connected with the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo, where selected award-winning and participating organizations showcased their achievements, extending the recognition of their efforts into opportunities for exchange and dialogue. From the awards stage to the exhibition floor, sustainability initiatives from different sectors were able to connect and learn from one another, allowing effective practices to gain greater visibility and creating more opportunities for knowledge sharing, learning, and broader adoption.

518 Award-Winning Initiatives Demonstrate Taiwan's and the Asia-Pacific Region's Sustainability Momentum

This year's "2026 Taiwan Sustainability Action Awards" received 545 project submissions from 264 organizations, of which 395 outstanding initiatives were selected for recognition. Meanwhile, the "2026 Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards" attracted 187 project submissions from 107 organizations, with 123 initiatives ultimately receiving Gold, Silver, or Bronze awards. Together, the two awards programs recognized a total of 518 sustainability action projects. In addition, the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards honored four outstanding Chief Sustainability Officers and five Livable and Sustainable Cities, showcasing the region's sustainability achievements across action projects, leadership, and urban governance.

This year's award-winning achievements covered a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, industrial transformation, climate adaptation, net-zero technologies, healthy aging, social inclusion, smart healthcare, educational innovation, and international humanitarian cooperation. Technological applications and cross-sector collaboration continued to deepen, while many initiatives gradually evolved from individual projects into practical models capable of long-term operation, measurable outcomes, and replication in other settings. These developments demonstrate the growing maturity of sustainability initiatives in Taiwan and across the Asia-Pacific region.

TAISE hopes to continue identifying and connecting impactful sustainability practices through the Sustainability Action Awards and the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo. The Foundation aims to ensure that winning an award is not merely recognition of past achievements but also the starting point for further exchange, collaboration, and broader adoption, bringing Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region together toward a more resilient, innovative, and mutually prosperous sustainable future.