Taiwan seeks British climate change aid

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Taiwan is seeking British expertise to modify its economy to become more sensitive to climate change.

The Central News Agency reported Tuesday that the British Trade and Cultural Office in the capital Taipei hosted an international seminar on climate change to bring together Taiwanese government officials and British experts to discuss shifting Taiwan's economy towards lower carbon emissions.

BTCO invited 200 Taiwanese government officials, civil servants, academics and major decision-makers to the "Carbon confused? Opportunities and challenges of moving to a low carbon economy" seminar. At the opening ceremony BTCO Director David Campbell said, "We all have a role to play in building a low carbon future, but business perhaps has the greatest scope for making it happen. For individual companies, those that move early will also see economic benefits as they develop technologies and strategies that will play a crucial role in moving the economy to a low carbon basis."

Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Huang Jung-chiou replied that Taiwan hopes to learn from the success of British greenhouse gas reduction systems, telling participants, "To eliminate the uncertainties that we face as we move toward a low carbon economy, we should take on the challenges and access international channels so that we could draw on the experience of other countries and strengthen our technology and skills in the field."