TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has unveiled an ambitious initiative to cultivate a workforce equipped for its climate-focused future. The National Environmental Research Academy (國家環境研究院), a key government research institution, revealed on Wednesday (May 14) a partnership with 32 universities nationwide to launch a specialized training program for developing "green-collar" professionals. The comprehensive curriculum, aimed at accelerating Taiwan's transition to a net-zero economy, will require 48 hours of coursework and carries a fee of NT$12,000 (approximately US$395) per participant.
Recognizing potential financial barriers to participation, Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOEN, 環境部) has established a tiered subsidy system for the program. Young students under 30 qualify for half-price tuition, while low-income individuals can attend completely free of charge. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國), a member of Taiwan's ruling party, has pushed for expanding these benefits to include middle-to-low-income households and people with disabilities. Liu has called for prompt regulatory amendments to broaden access to the program.
The legislatorfurther advocated for interagency cooperation, proposing that environmental officials coordinate with the Ministry of Labor's (MOL, 勞動部) Workforce Development Agency (WDA, 勞力發展署), which already administers training programs for the unemployed. This collaboration, Liu suggested, could create pathways for jobseekers to enter Taiwan's expanding green economy. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) responded positively to these recommendations, pledging to allocate necessary funding and develop implementation frameworks for the expanded eligibility criteria. Peng confirmed plans for direct discussions with Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) to explore the cross-ministry initiative. ◼