The largest 2022 sustainability event brings together industry, government, academia, and research
The largest sustainability event of 2022 is launched with great enthusiasm
Gathering the strengths of industry, government, academia and research to embark on the road to 2050 net zero transformation now
The award ceremony was attended by 34 chairmen, 4 vice chairmen, 41 presidents, 42 vice presidents, 10 principals and vice presidents, and more than 200 VIPs.
The 5th Annual Global Corporate Sustainability Forum (GCSF) 2022, the largest sustainability event of the year, was held on November 16 (Wed) at the Yuanshan Hotel in Taipei. The three-day event combines the Global Corporate Sustainability Awards (GCSA) and Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards (TCSA) award ceremony, two summits, 22 sessions, and an on-site connection with COP27 in Egypt. 152 speakers and panelists will give speeches, seminars, and workshops on global net-zero sustainability trends and bring together industry, government, academia, and research institutions through sharing, exchange, and interaction. Through the sharing, exchange and interaction between the domestic and foreign sectors, all parties involved in the industry, government, academia and research join hands to "Road to Net Zero."
The award ceremony honored the chief convener, Ambassador Chien, the President of the Legislative Yuan, President of the Examination Yuan: President Huang, Vice Chairman of the FSC: Ms. Hsiao Chui-ling, and Director of the National Health Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare: Mr. Wu Chiu-jun, as the honored guests and award recipients from as many as 14 countries, including the United States, Singapore, Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The event was attended by more than 200 VIPs, including 34 chairmen, 4 vice chairmen, 41 general managers, 42 vice presidents, 10 principals and vice presidents, etc. It was a grand occasion, highlighting that the transformation of net zero is the focus of global attention and an imminent goal.
Ambassador Eugene Chien, Chairman of the Forum, said at the award ceremony that according to the United Nations, more than 70 economies, including the United States, China and the European Union, which are major greenhouse gas emitters, are committing to net-zero emissions and setting net-zero targets, covering about 76% of global emissions. More than 1,000 cities, 1,000 educational institutions and more than 500 financial institutions have joined the "Getting to Zero" campaign. If all of these goals are met, there is a chance that global carbon emissions will be cut in half by 2030, keeping warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Glasgow Climate Convention, agreed at COP26 last year, calls for all countries to revisit and improve the 2030 targets in their national development goals by the end of this year (2022), but as of September, only 24 new or updated plans have been submitted worldwide. Antonio Guterres UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres even said at COP27 recently that the energy transition must be accelerated in order to avoid going to climate hell.
"We understand that the transition from carbon reduction to net-zero emissions is a long and difficult process, but for the sake of global, national and social sustainability, action must begin now. Ambassador Chien shared that during the selection process for the Global and Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards, many companies, universities and hospitals in Taiwan had to be commended for their progressive commitment to zero carbon emissions, and for expanding their influence by actively working with their employees, supply chain partners and peers to continue to engage in environmental sustainability, social engagement and corporate governance in order to move toward a path of infinite possibilities for a sustainable future. He reminds us that joining domestic and international initiatives to learn from the benchmarks, promoting the legalization of ESG practices, and strengthening partnerships are key to implementing actions.
Mr. Xu Xudong, Chairman of Far Eastern Group, winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award for Corporate Sustainability, understands that only a sustainable company, satisfied customers, growing employees, a quality supply chain and an inclusive society will enable the group to grow and thrive. In addition to running the business, he also pays attention to the concerns of different stakeholders and actively responds to them in order to create a win-win-win situation for the environment, governance and society, making Far Eastern Corporation one of the most important sustainable groups in Taiwan.
This year's Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Award (TCSA) has a record high of 424 participants, a 29% increase since last year. 48 universities, 24 hospitals and 20 government agencies have also participated in this year's award. This year, 48 universities, 24 hospitals, and 20 government agencies participated in the awards. The cumulative number of past awards reached 581, accounting for 76% of the market value of Taiwan's listed companies, and their combined annual sales and government budgets reached 36.13 trillion, representing 167% of Taiwan's GDP in 2021. This year, it is even more remarkable that the Top 100 Sustainable Companies in Taiwan were selected through the category of overall performance. The top 10 companies that stood out from the rest have world-class ESG performance and have become a leading force in Taiwan's rise. It is expected that all award-winning companies will once again become the choice of investment institutions and the focus of attention for fresh university graduates seeking jobs.
On the first day, Deloitte, Touche Tohmatsu, EY Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC; as well as the Sustainability Award winners, shared their experiences on the latest ESG trends and net-zero sustainability practices in two summits. In addition to the aforementioned four major accounting firms, BSI Taiwan, Green University Consortium, Chinese Association for Sustainable Development, Taipei University School of Business, MSCI, ICLEI, General Administration of Personnel, Executive Yuan, Council of Agriculture, National Lawyers Federation, Vision Project Foundation, etc. also participated in the three-day forum. During the forum, the Chinese Association for Sustainable Development, Taipei University School of Business, MSCI, ICLEI, the General Office of Personnel and Administration of the Executive Yuan, the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan, the National Lawyers Federation, and the Vision Project Foundation all held special events to explore the challenges and opportunities of sustainable zero.
To keep pace with the latest international net zero trends, the Sustainable Energy Research Foundation of Taiwan, the Future Earth Project of Academia Sinica, and the Vision Project Foundation will also connect with the COP27 in Egypt during the conference. We at TAISE hope that this event will help both promote Taiwan's integration with the international community and also provide opportunities for sustainable development and transformation.President Huang Rong-cun thanked the award winners for their commitment and efforts to sustainable development.
Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun expressed that Taiwan is not absent from sustainable environmental development.
In his speech, Ambassador Chien said that during the selection process of the Global and Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Awards, many Taiwanese companies, universities and hospitals have to be commended for their progressive commitment to achieve zero carbon emissions.
Far Eastern Group Chairman Xu Xudong receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Corporate Sustainability.
Ambassador Eugene Chien (from left 5 in the front row), Vice President Huang, and the award recipients both taking a group photo with the Forum Chairman.