The "New Generation of Sustainability: Creating Impact Together – Taiwan Outstanding Sustainability Youth Exchange and Advocacy Event" took place at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo, bringing together 17 past award recipients and attracting approximately 50 young people and members of the public interested in sustainability issues. The event demonstrated the remarkable energy of a new generation putting sustainability into practice across diverse professional fields. TAISE Chairman and Ambassador Chien and CEO Cheng of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy also attended, joining past recipients in witnessing the achievements and continued development of six editions of youth sustainability initiatives.

TAISE Chairman and Ambassador Chien stated that past Outstanding Sustainability Youth award recipients have all been pioneers on the path toward sustainability, and that sustainability action does not end with receiving an award. He described the Asia-Pacific Sustainability Expo as a reflection of nearly 20 years of Taiwan's sustainable development journey. In the face of rapid global changes and transformation challenges, active participation from younger generations is more important than ever. He expressed hope that young people would exchange ideas, inspire one another, and discover their next direction "Beyond Recognition," transforming their expertise and enthusiasm into longer-lasting impact.

During the event, past award recipients gathered for a group photograph holding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) signs. From carbon reduction, the circular economy, and social inclusion to health and well-being, the photograph highlighted young people's commitment to a broad range of sustainability issues. It also conveyed their shared aspiration to move "From Action to Leadership," encouraging more young people to bring their accumulated professional knowledge and experience into organizations, industries, and society, becoming an important driving force for sustainability transformation.

Six representatives from previous award editions were also invited to share their development after receiving recognition and how they had expanded their expertise and areas of practice. The six representatives were Nurse Chen of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital; CEO and Founder Lin of Yucheng Egg Products Co., Ltd.; Director Chou of the Sustainability Office at Mennonite Christian Hospital; Founding Chairperson Cheng of the Taiwan Vision Development Association; Founder Wu of the Shallow Mountain Botanical Arts Studio; and Founder Lee of the Environmental Star Power Volunteer Team.

The discussions covered healthcare, agricultural transformation, emergency response education, sustainability education, local revitalization, and environmental education. Nurse Chen began by discussing young medical volunteers and explaining how people aged 18 to 40 can participate in medical, rehabilitation, psychological, and other services, including those without professional healthcare backgrounds. She emphasized that positive personal well-being contributes to better quality care, and that sustainability is not about individual heroism. Rather, it begins with caring for and understanding oneself before supporting others, allowing one person to positively influence another. She hopes that young people will move beyond participating in a single free medical clinic and discover their own strengths through continued service, contributing to more equitable healthcare and extending efforts to protect health, life, and compassion.

CEO and Founder Lin began with the idea of "one good egg," discussing animal welfare, food and agricultural education, and everyday consumption. He described an egg as a "premium product" that takes a hen approximately 28 hours to produce. Using examples of hens being able to enjoy sunlight, spread their wings, and preen their feathers, he explained that respecting animals' natural needs is closely connected to sustainability. He also emphasized that helping children understand where food comes from and how living beings are treated can shape their future attitudes toward the environment and everyday life. Beginning with the choice of a more animal-friendly egg, every meal can become an opportunity to make better choices for oneself, one's family, and animals.

Director Chou reflected on his original motivation for joining emergency response services 18 years ago. Beginning with helping save his first life, he gradually embarked on a long-term commitment to emergency response education and public service. Over the years, he has worked in communities and rural areas and has also provided frontline assistance during the Guangfu flood disaster. He has incorporated lessons from emergency response situations into everyday education, hoping to equip more people with the ability to respond effectively to emergencies. From disaster sites to local communities, he has consistently regarded emergency response skills as essential to protecting lives and has sought to empower more people to support those around them through sustained engagement and education.

Founding Chairperson Cheng expanded her sustainability work after receiving the award into campuses, communities, industries, and governance. Her activities range from teaching university courses on green design, smart and healthy buildings, and AI and ESG to promoting environmental education, climate change awareness, and sustainable lifestyles in communities. She has also assisted companies with greenhouse gas inventories, product carbon footprints, and sustainability reports. In addition, she has participated in work related to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), carbon footprints of government construction projects, and corporate governance, steadily broadening the application of her sustainability expertise across different areas.

Founder Wu connected his experience with the theme "Beyond Recognition, Action Continues." He shared that four years ago he was still a project assistant in a University Social Responsibility (USR) program. Today, he has returned to his hometown and established the Shallow Mountain Botanical Arts Studio, reconsidering opportunities to transform the existing betel nut industry in Gukeng, Yunlin. Guided by the principle of "Practical Use Rather Than Consumption," he transforms fallen betel nuts into charcoal materials, cultural and creative products, and experiential educational activities. He also enables older residents to participate through collecting and sorting materials. In the past, betel nut cultivation supported the livelihoods of many rural families. Today, he seeks to preserve the value of the local industry through new applications. Returning home and bringing smiles to older residents through simple companionship has also helped him rediscover the meaning of entrepreneurship.

Founder Lee reflected on his experiences in scouting and volunteer service, sharing how community service helped him discover new aspects of himself and gradually shaped public service into a lifelong direction. Through collaborative activities connecting young people across schools, disciplines, and age groups, he has promoted water environment monitoring, environmental education, volunteer capacity building, and international exchanges, gradually expanding his efforts from Taiwan to overseas communities. He encouraged young people engaged in sustainability to clarify their core beliefs and original motivations. He believes that anyone willing to take action can become a sustainability practitioner and positively influence more lives in their own way.

Through their individual experiences, the six representatives brought the theme "Beyond Recognition, Action Continues" to life, demonstrating how they have continued deepening their work and exploring new possibilities after receiving their awards. The event also provided opportunities for young leaders from different award editions to get to know one another, creating potential for ongoing connections and future collaboration. TAISE hopes that these connections across award generations will encourage mutual support and inspiration, gradually fostering cross-sector cooperation, resource integration, and participation in decision-making, enabling young people to contribute even more to sustainability transformation in their respective fields.