TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Environment (環境部), Taiwan's top environmental agency, celebrated its second anniversary Friday (Aug. 22) by honoring 15 environmental champions with the inaugural "Environmental Protection Professional Medals" (環保專業獎章). Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) expressed profound gratitude to these dedicated individuals for igniting Taiwan's environmental passion while emphasizing the crucial silent dedication of grassroots personnel across the island. The historic award ceremony invited former ministers, past directors of the previous Environmental Protection Administration (環保署), deputy directors, and distinguished environmental advocates from diverse sectors nationwide.
The distinguished recipients include Chen Chih-hsien (陳志賢), chief deputy plant manager at Asia Cement Corporation (亞洲水泥), who has achieved remarkable strides in promoting innovative low-carbon products and cutting-edge green technologies. Chuang Chu-fang (莊居芳), executive director of the Changhua County Earth Protection Association (彰化縣大地保護協會), has demonstrated unwavering dedication to environmental volunteer services while passionately advocating for comprehensive local community environmental education programs. Marilyn Su (蘇小真), Carrefour's (家樂福) sustainability chief, shared her transformative experiences in environmental education and pioneering cage-free egg initiatives, successfully integrating sustainable environmental practices into everyday consumer behavior.
Prosecutor Chen Hsiang-wei (陳祥薇) from the Taichung District Prosecutors Office (台中地檢署), a regional judicial authority, received the prestigious "Gold Ring Award for Environmental Crime Investigation" (查緝環保犯罪金環獎). Chen successfully dismantled a massive cross-regional illegal acid waste disposal operation, seizing NT$80 million (around US$2.6 million) in illicit criminal proceeds. Chiu Yen-lin (邱彥霖), an innovative student at National Chi Nan University (暨南大學), brilliantly showcased the younger generation's creative reinterpretation of environmental education through a compelling short video competition focused on environmental education facilities.
Minister Peng emphasized that the ministry has undergone a remarkable evolution from exclusively focusing on pollution prevention to boldly leading Taiwan's comprehensive net-zero transformation initiatives. He explained that the ministry strategically aims to support environmental partners through sophisticated policy tools, advanced technology integration, and comprehensive resource consolidation across multiple sectors. The ministry currently confronts significant challenges in waste management, climate change adaptation, and achieving a sustainable circular economy, yet remains steadfastly committed to its core environmental beliefs amid ongoing systemic transformations. ◼