Climate Imbalance Reaches Critical Point, President Lai Proposes Greening Doubling Strategy with 3 Core Elements
President Lai Ching-te stated that climate imbalance has reached a critical point, elevating "national land greening" to the same level as electricity and water supply, considering it a "national-level resilient infrastructure." He announced an active implementation of a greening doubling strategy with three core elements.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 17:54
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 18:31 (36 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 04:09 (9h 38m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, 30th) President Lai Ching-te said today that the Earth's energy balance is out of control, and climate imbalance has reached a critical point. He stated that "national land greening" should be elevated to the same level as electricity and water supply, considering it a "national-level resilient infrastructure." The government will actively implement a greening doubling strategy with three core elements: precise site selection based on scientific assessment; establishment of a systematic resilient network; and mobilization of whole-society participation.
President Lai presided over the 7th meeting of the National Climate Change Response Committee. He stated that today is the last day of April, and while April used to be a spring month, it already feels like summer, which is a current manifestation of global climate change.
The President stated that according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s observation report released in March this year, the period from 2015 to 2025 will be the hottest 11 years on record. Extreme high temperatures, heavy rainfall, tropical cyclones, and other events continue to impact social and economic systems worldwide. This is a serious reminder that the Earth's energy balance is out of control and climate imbalance has reached a critical point. Facing these changes affects the quality and safety of life.
He said that the past six National Climate Change Response meetings have laid a solid foundation for the government in carbon reduction and energy. If climate governance is likened to a ball game, "carbon reduction" is long-term defense, but facing summers that are hotter year by year, defense alone is not enough; proactive action is required, and this action is "adaptation." "Carbon reduction" is to prevent the future from getting worse, while "adaptation" is to make the present better.
During Arbor Day, the President announced the promotion of "urban forests" as a national-level adaptation plan. Before Earth Day, when meeting with representatives of environmental groups, he mentioned that the Ministry of Environment would propose a national tree-planting plan at today's meeting.
The President said that the promotion of this work is the most solid foundational project for Taiwan's sustainable development. The government will elevate "national land greening" to the same level as electricity and water supply, considering it a "national-level resilient infrastructure." He also asked the committee members to consider how to gradually deploy and implement it with "professionalism, dedicated responsibility, and special laws."
President Lai stated that the greening doubling strategy will be actively implemented with three core elements. First, precise site selection based on scientific assessment: building on existing tree-planting efforts, advanced monitoring technology will be used to analyze the distribution of urban heat islands and shading gaps across Taiwan. In addition to identifying high-temperature areas, scientific analysis will ensure that every tree is planted in the most suitable location to maximize the cooling benefits of greening.
Second, establishment of a systematic resilient network: he has asked the administrative team to integrate resources from various ministries and cooperate fully with local governments to systematically connect urban green spaces, community forest belts, and natural forests. The goal is to break the limitations of fragmented governance and build a complete "land-based resilient green network," allowing green resources to be interconnected across regions and comprehensively enhancing the nation's defense capabilities.
Third, mobilization of whole-society participation: climate adaptation requires the strength of all citizens. Public-private cooperation will continue to be expanded, and through social mobilization and resource integration, businesses and communities will jointly invest in environmental restoration. The protection of greening will be transformed into local actions with whole-society participation, jointly creating a cool and comfortable home for the next generation.
He said that another lifeline for climate adaptation is water. The government has launched cross-ministerial watershed systemic governance, from upstream watershed conservation to comprehensive urban water management, to build resilient corridors with self-healing capabilities in Taiwan, protecting every drop of precious water resources.
President Lai mentioned, "One generation plants trees, another enjoys the shade." Although it takes time for trees to form a forest, every tree planted and every river managed today is not just for landscape beautification. As long as they are well protected and precisely managed, every effort made today will become Taiwan's most economical and direct national land defense action.
He stated that, as Senior Advisor Wu Sheng, the "poet who plants trees," said, "Where there are trees, there is wind; where there is wind, it is cool. Where there are trees, there is shade; where there is shade, it is cool." He hopes everyone will take action together to leave a living asset that protects sustainability and hope. (Editor: Su Chih-chung) 1150430
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(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, 30th) President Lai Ching-te said today that the Earth's energy balance is out of control, and climate imbalance has reached a critical point. He stated that "national land greening" should be elevated to the same level as electricity and water supply, considering it a "national-level resilient infrastructure." The government will actively implement a greening doubling strategy with three core elements: precise site selection based on scientific assessment; establishment of a systematic resilient network; and mobilization of whole-society participation.
President Lai presided over the 7th meeting of the National Climate Change Response Committee. He stated that today is the last day of April, and while April used to be a spring month, it already feels like summer, which is a current manifestation of global climate change.
The President stated that according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s observation report released in March this year, the period from 2015 to 2025 will be the hottest 11 years on record. Extreme high temperatures, heavy rainfall, tropical cyclones, and other events continue to impact social and economic systems worldwide. This is a serious reminder that the Earth's energy balance is out of control and climate imbalance has reached a critical point. Facing these changes affects the quality and safety of life.
He said that the past six National Climate Change Response meetings have laid a solid foundation for the government in carbon reduction and energy. If climate governance is likened to a ball game, "carbon reduction" is long-term defense, but facing summers that are hotter year by year, defense alone is not enough; proactive action is required, and this action is "adaptation." "Carbon reduction" is to prevent the future from getting worse, while "adaptation" is to make the present better.
During Arbor Day, the President announced the promotion of "urban forests" as a national-level adaptation plan. Before Earth Day, when meeting with representatives of environmental groups, he mentioned that the Ministry of Environment would propose a national tree-planting plan at today's meeting.
The President said that the promotion of this work is the most solid foundational project for Taiwan's sustainable development. The government will elevate "national land greening" to the same level as electricity and water supply, considering it a "national-level resilient infrastructure." He also asked the committee members to consider how to gradually deploy and implement it with "professionalism, dedicated responsibility, and special laws."
President Lai stated that the greening doubling strategy will be actively implemented with three core elements. First, precise site selection based on scientific assessment: building on existing tree-planting efforts, advanced monitoring technology will be used to analyze the distribution of urban heat islands and shading gaps across Taiwan. In addition to identifying high-temperature areas, scientific analysis will ensure that every tree is planted in the most suitable location to maximize the cooling benefits of greening.
Second, establishment of a systematic resilient network: he has asked the administrative team to integrate resources from various ministries and cooperate fully with local governments to systematically connect urban green spaces, community forest belts, and natural forests. The goal is to break the limitations of fragmented governance and build a complete "land-based resilient green network," allowing green resources to be interconnected across regions and comprehensively enhancing the nation's defense capabilities.
Third, mobilization of whole-society participation: climate adaptation requires the strength of all citizens. Public-private cooperation will continue to be expanded, and through social mobilization and resource integration, businesses and communities will jointly invest in environmental restoration. The protection of greening will be transformed into local actions with whole-society participation, jointly creating a cool and comfortable home for the next generation.
He said that another lifeline for climate adaptation is water. The government has launched cross-ministerial watershed systemic governance, from upstream watershed conservation to comprehensive urban water management, to build resilient corridors with self-healing capabilities in Taiwan, protecting every drop of precious water resources.
President Lai mentioned, "One generation plants trees, another enjoys the shade." Although it takes time for trees to form a forest, every tree planted and every river managed today is not just for landscape beautification. As long as they are well protected and precisely managed, every effort made today will become Taiwan's most economical and direct national land defense action.
He stated that, as Senior Advisor Wu Sheng, the "poet who plants trees," said, "Where there are trees, there is wind; where there is wind, it is cool. Where there are trees, there is shade; where there is shade, it is cool." He hopes everyone will take action together to leave a living asset that protects sustainability and hope. (Editor: Su Chih-chung) 1150430
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.