TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Environment (NOENV, 環境部) announced Tuesday (Nov. 12) its intention to collaborate with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on launching an air quality satellite. This initiative follows the early-year findings from a cross-border air pollution monitoring project with NASA and other Asian nations, 7 South East Asian Studies (7-SEAS), which revealed the complexity of air pollution causes, including atmospheric and circulation factors.
Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) highlighted the 7-SEAS project's measurements, noting that Taiwan's air quality rivals that of Japan and South Korea. The Ministry plans to enhance factory monitoring and control. Peng stated that the air quality issue involves not just ground factories but also atmospheric and circulation elements. Cross-national cooperation helps address this problem, and he thanks NASA for its support.
Peng expressed a desire for continued collaboration with NASA to launch an air quality satellite, aiming for Taiwan to play a significant role in Asia and globally in understanding pollution intricacies. Lin Neng-huei (林能暉), a distinguished professor at Taiwan Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences (中央大學大氣科學學系), cited NASA flight data from March 13 as an example of high ozone levels and dust storms affecting Taiwan's air quality due to transboundary pollution.
Lin explained that foreign pollution could account for more than half of the pollution levels. He emphasized Taiwan's limits in pollution control, urging continued efforts to reduce pollution despite forecasts of incoming foreign pollution. The 7-SEAS project plans to delve deeper into air quality in Asian metropolises and cross-border pollution transmission, aiming to tackle pollution challenges collectively.