Research Express@NCKU - News Release

In response to the Earth Day, from 19 to 22 of April, Sustainable Environment Research Center (SERC) of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) organized the 2008 Jade Mountain Forum on Sustainable Environment, lecture sessions and the announcement of the 2008 Jade Mountain Declaration on Sustainable Environment. The 1.5-day three lecture sessions, starting from 19 of April, were held at the NCKU Campus in Tainan City. Afterwards some of the participants moved towards the Jade Mountain to continue the “sustainability” discussion under a relaxing atmosphere. While at the top of Jade Mountain on 22 of April, the 2008 Jade Mountain Declaration on Sustainable Environment was publicly announced to reinforce the Forum’s commitment of establishing a “low carbon, low risk, zero waste” society.

Approximately 100 representatives from the industrial, academic and governmental sectors participated in the lecture sessions. 12 Speakers from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan made presentations on 3 main topics of sustainable environment: Safe and Clean Water Environment, Site Remediation and Hazard Prevention, and Green Energy and Resources. Panel and open discussions were also arranged to provide an opportunity for free exchange of opinions and thoughts. The comments, discussions and suggestions that were made in the forum will serve as a basis to form an action plan for future collaborative research as well as practice in the related areas.

On the Earth Day, 22 of April, Professor Juu-En Chang, Director of SERC (former Environmental Protection Administration Minister), led the team of 30 scholars and experts of environmental conservation, arrived the Mt. Jade Main Peak (3952 meter of height) and announced the 2008 Jade Mountain Declaration on Sustainable Environment. At 9:40 AM, FORMOSAT-2 took the picture and recorded this historic moment.

The 2008 Jade Mountain Declaration on Sustainable Environment, presented in three languages of Mandarin, English and Japanese, was drawn up by Professor Chih C. Chao, Associate Director of SERC, and was agreed and signed by 100 domestic and overseas scholars and experts. The content is: “The earth which we live on is facing an unsustainable future. As professionals in the Pacific Region we share a genuine concern and sense of duty. We hence declare at the top of Jade Mountain a common vision and approach on environmental conservation. Our goal is to establish a ‘low carbon, low risk, zero waste’ society. Our action is to help to ensure a sustainable environment through global alliance, local actions, collective effort and continuous improvement.”