In response to climate change and the global trend of net-zero emissions , the "Kaohsiung City Medical Net-Zero Alliance", which is led by the local government, jointly organized by the Health Bureau and the Environmental Protection Bureau, and commissioned by National Tsing Hua University as a professional consultant, was officially launched on July 16th. The distinguished guests watered the green potted plants on the stage, symbolizing the cooperation between departments and the medical system to irrigate a sustainable future. It also implies Kaohsiung City's intention and determination to actively move towards the 2050 net-zero emissions goal and low-carbon transformation. In the future, it will continue to strengthen cross-sector integration, and through policy guidance, technical guidance and resource matching, drive Kaohsiung to achieve the city vision of "low-carbon, sustainable and livable", setting an example for local government climate governance.
The launch ceremony of the "Kaohsiung City Medical Net Zero Alliance" was presided over by Mayor Chen Chi-mai, and invited National Tsing Hua University Vice President Yan Daren, Dean of the College of Sustainability Fan Jiande, Kaohsiung City Health Bureau Director Huang Zhizhong, Environmental Protection Bureau Director Zhang Ruihui, Legislator Lin Daihua , as well as the directors of nine municipal hospitals, Kaohsiung Bank, China Trust Financial Holdings, and experts and scholars from all walks of life to attend, to witness the opening of a new chapter in Kaohsiung's climate governance.
The "Kaohsiung City Medical Net Zero Alliance" will prioritize carbon reduction and offsetting efforts within its affiliated municipal hospitals, assisting medical institutions in their green transformation, moving the industry and city government toward net zero, and promoting the development of sustainable industries such as carbon credits to achieve the vision of a low-carbon, sustainable, and healthy city. In his speech, Chen Chi-mai stated that this initiative, encompassing nine Kaohsiung municipal hospitals, aims to gradually achieve overall carbon reduction goals for the healthcare industry. He also announced that the initiative will be expanded to all medical institutions citywide, hoping to serve as a benchmark for other counties and cities to emulate.
Chen Chi-mai stated that Kaohsiung City has long been actively engaged in both net-zero and digital transformations. This includes enacting the "Net-Zero Urban Development Self-Government Ordinance," launching the "Industry Net-Zero Alliance," establishing Taiwan's first "Net-Zero Academy," and pioneering the adoption of a "City Carbon Budget," gradually building a comprehensive net-zero governance model. Now, they have further established the nation's first "Healthcare Net-Zero Alliance," which aims to promote a standardized and institutionalized healthcare carbon reduction model, spearheaded by municipal hospitals, and foster a consensus on sustainable development within Kaohsiung's medical community.
Yan Daren stated that National Tsing Hua University's expertise in sustainable technology, carbon management, green finance, and digital governance can help municipal hospitals establish comprehensive carbon inventory systems, promote carbon credit applications, and integrate green finance and asset management tools over the long term, strengthening their energy-saving strategies and financial resilience. This carbon credit-focused strategy will not only address the central government's long-term goal of "net-zero healthcare," but also create additional benefits for medical institutions, truly transforming carbon reduction efforts into a driver of sustainable upgrades.
Fan Jiande pointed out that the carbon credit strategy is one of the three golden arrows that will transform Kaohsiung. The establishment of this alliance will assist municipal hospitals in promoting carbon credit applications. This will not only align with the central government's long-term goal of net-zero healthcare and reduce equipment replacement costs, but will also create multiple benefits for municipal hospitals, including economic development, policy implementation, and demonstration and diffusion. The long-term goal is to further integrate resources such as green finance and asset management tools to drive overall medical industry upgrades and green healthcare.
Huang Zhizhong emphasized that with climate change and the development trend of sustainable medicine, sustainable transformation has become an important issue that cannot be ignored at present, and health care units cannot be absent from the net zero action. The establishment of the small alliance will start from the affiliated municipal hospitals to promote carbon reduction measures such as equipment replacement, energy transformation and energy saving optimization. It will not only assist municipal hospitals in systematically implementing energy conservation and carbon reduction actions, but will also enhance the competitiveness of hospitals in promoting low-carbon transformation and build consensus on the sustainable development of medical care in Kaohsiung. In the future, it will be gradually extended to medical institutions across the city to work together for the sustainable development of Kaohsiung.
Zhang Ruihui said that Kaohsiung City's carbon emissions account for 1/5 of the country's total, and all departments must take action. The Environmental Protection Bureau has cooperated with National Tsing Hua University to take stock of possible reductions through a carbon credit counseling program, and then apply for carbon credits. So far, applications for charging piles and internal health and energy centers have been launched. In the medical sector, the Municipal Minsheng Hospital is assisted in the application for the replacement of the chiller and water main unit, and it is expected to be submitted before the end of the year. Today, the establishment of the Medical Alliance is a very important beginning, and the Environmental Protection Bureau will continue to assist Kaohsiung's medical industry in moving towards net zero.
Source: 推動醫療機構減碳綠色轉型 高市府首創成立醫療淨零小聯盟 | 生活 | Newtalk新聞
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