Minister Peng Chi-ming: Environmental Education Should Be a Five-Sense Experience of Sustainability, Not Rote Learning
The Ministry of Environment held the 10th National Environmental Education Awards. Minister Peng Chi-ming emphasized that environmental education should be a five-sense experience rather than memorization, urging public participation in the 2050 Net Zero goal. The ceremony honored top winners across six categories for their achievements in resource circulation and sustainability.
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The Ministry of Environment held the 10th National Environmental Education Awards ceremony today. Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming stated that environmental education is not about sitting in a classroom and memorizing textbooks, but rather transforming the concept of sustainability into a five-sense experience.
Peng expressed that environmental education stems from residents' stories about the land and their realization of life, further deepening "protective actions" into "educational practices." It translates the concept of sustainability into a learning process of five-sense experiences that can be touched, smelled, and tasted.
Peng said that the 2050 net-zero emissions goal requires everyone's participation. This cannot be accomplished by the government alone; it requires everyone to move forward hand in hand to leave the most beautiful blue skies, green lands, green mountains, and clean waters for the next generation.
Peng mentioned the passage of the Resource Circulation Promotion Act, noting that among the nominees for this year's National Environmental Education Awards, there are enterprises using textile technology as a carrier to promote green transition demonstration sites from the source of materials, recycling PET bottles and oyster shells into high-value functional fabrics. There are teams promoting the resource utilization of food waste and agricultural and livestock waste, developing food waste fuel rods, and using sludge to make teacups and coasters. There are also fishing village communities promoting low-carbon aquaculture and a "zero fish waste" circular system, and carrying out seagrass and coral restoration, demonstrating Taiwan's advanced deployment and strength in resource circulation.
Peng stated that President Lai Ching-te's initiative "Everyone plant trees" hopes to jointly promote national green canopies to adapt to climate change, making everyone partners in action.
The "National Environmental Education Awards" has six categories: institutions (organizations), private enterprises, schools, individuals, groups, and communities. This year's winners present the diverse appearances of Taiwan's environmental education and further highlight the emotion and hope of cross-generational and cross-disciplinary collaboration in promoting a sustainable future.
The institutions (organizations) category transformed offshore island battlefields, reservoir watersheds, and tribal culture and ecological governance into participatory educational sites, putting into practice the concept that "the site is the teaching material, and the landscape is the environment."
The individuals category showcased the action energy that "everyone can be a practitioner of environmental education," ranging from low-carbon dining, rural co-learning, and circular textiles to stream restoration, biomass energy, and eco-friendly agriculture.
The schools category reversed the crisis of small rural schools, deepened tea culture and food and agriculture education, offered five-sense courses for the disabled, engaged in habitat restoration actions, or promoted green power cooperatives and net-zero campuses. These efforts guide children to understand nature and cherish the land through daily life, making environmental education an important force in inspiring life.
The private enterprises category connected industrial development and environmental education through innovative models such as forest co-management, circular timber utilization, smart agriculture, sustainable apiaries, and forest dining tables.
The groups category wove a sustainable network to protect Taiwan's land through collective action, from trail protection, wild bird conservation, marine education, and low-carbon diets to archaeological culture promotion.
The communities category demonstrated communities as the most profound and resilient practical force of environmental education through methods such as low-carbon aquaculture, blue carbon restoration, circular crafts, youth-elderly co-learning, and cultural field trips.
The top winners of each category are: Taipei Feitsui Reservoir Administration, Guanshan Township Farmers' Association in Taitung County, Shezi Elementary School in Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Associate Professor Pai I-hao of National Dong Hwa University, Wild Bird Society of Taipei, and Heping Community Development Association in Dapu Township, Chiayi County.
Peng expressed that environmental education stems from residents' stories about the land and their realization of life, further deepening "protective actions" into "educational practices." It translates the concept of sustainability into a learning process of five-sense experiences that can be touched, smelled, and tasted.
Peng said that the 2050 net-zero emissions goal requires everyone's participation. This cannot be accomplished by the government alone; it requires everyone to move forward hand in hand to leave the most beautiful blue skies, green lands, green mountains, and clean waters for the next generation.
Peng mentioned the passage of the Resource Circulation Promotion Act, noting that among the nominees for this year's National Environmental Education Awards, there are enterprises using textile technology as a carrier to promote green transition demonstration sites from the source of materials, recycling PET bottles and oyster shells into high-value functional fabrics. There are teams promoting the resource utilization of food waste and agricultural and livestock waste, developing food waste fuel rods, and using sludge to make teacups and coasters. There are also fishing village communities promoting low-carbon aquaculture and a "zero fish waste" circular system, and carrying out seagrass and coral restoration, demonstrating Taiwan's advanced deployment and strength in resource circulation.
Peng stated that President Lai Ching-te's initiative "Everyone plant trees" hopes to jointly promote national green canopies to adapt to climate change, making everyone partners in action.
The "National Environmental Education Awards" has six categories: institutions (organizations), private enterprises, schools, individuals, groups, and communities. This year's winners present the diverse appearances of Taiwan's environmental education and further highlight the emotion and hope of cross-generational and cross-disciplinary collaboration in promoting a sustainable future.
The institutions (organizations) category transformed offshore island battlefields, reservoir watersheds, and tribal culture and ecological governance into participatory educational sites, putting into practice the concept that "the site is the teaching material, and the landscape is the environment."
The individuals category showcased the action energy that "everyone can be a practitioner of environmental education," ranging from low-carbon dining, rural co-learning, and circular textiles to stream restoration, biomass energy, and eco-friendly agriculture.
The schools category reversed the crisis of small rural schools, deepened tea culture and food and agriculture education, offered five-sense courses for the disabled, engaged in habitat restoration actions, or promoted green power cooperatives and net-zero campuses. These efforts guide children to understand nature and cherish the land through daily life, making environmental education an important force in inspiring life.
The private enterprises category connected industrial development and environmental education through innovative models such as forest co-management, circular timber utilization, smart agriculture, sustainable apiaries, and forest dining tables.
The groups category wove a sustainable network to protect Taiwan's land through collective action, from trail protection, wild bird conservation, marine education, and low-carbon diets to archaeological culture promotion.
The communities category demonstrated communities as the most profound and resilient practical force of environmental education through methods such as low-carbon aquaculture, blue carbon restoration, circular crafts, youth-elderly co-learning, and cultural field trips.
The top winners of each category are: Taipei Feitsui Reservoir Administration, Guanshan Township Farmers' Association in Taitung County, Shezi Elementary School in Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Associate Professor Pai I-hao of National Dong Hwa University, Wild Bird Society of Taipei, and Heping Community Development Association in Dapu Township, Chiayi County.
FAQ
What are the National Environmental Education Awards in Taiwan?
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, it is an award system that recognizes outstanding achievements in environmental education practices across institutions, enterprises, schools, individuals, groups, and communities.
What is Minister Peng Chi-ming's view on environmental education?
He believes environmental education shouldn't be about memorizing textbooks, but should be transformed into five-sense learning experiences rooted in local stories and life experiences.
What are some examples of Taiwan's circular economy highlighted in the awards?
Examples include enterprises upcycling PET bottles and oyster shells into functional fabrics, and teams developing fuel rods from food and agricultural waste.