Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Today (27th), the Taipei City Government's Department for Youth partnered with the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Taipei to host the second Asia-Pacific Youth Leadership Summit. Focusing on the theme of sustainable development, the event demonstrated both organizations' forward-looking perspectives on global issues and emphasized the crucial role young people play in driving change. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an attended the summit, underscoring that sustainability is a shared responsibility of governments, businesses, and global communities. He expressed his hope that the collaboration between JCI and the Department for Youth would further promote core sustainable values and amplify their impact.

In his speech, Mayor Chiang highlighted Taipei's steadfast commitment to sustainability, pointing out that the city has won the Asia-Pacific Livable and Sustainable City Excellence Award for three consecutive years. The city government aims to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, 65% by 2040, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. These ambitious targets reflect Taipei's determination to build a greener future. The mayor also invited international participants to join the 2025 World Masters Games in Taipei and New Taipei, expressing his enthusiasm to welcome everyone back for this grand sporting event.

Commissioner Yin Wei of the Department for Youth emphasized that since the department’s establishment in June, it has been committed to supporting young Taiwanese talents in gaining international exposure, including launching the overseas internship program. He expressed his hope that JCI Taipei would help promote these opportunities and encouraged more businesses and non-profits to join forces with the Department for Youth. This cooperation will provide Taiwan’s youth with greater chances to showcase local innovation on the global stage and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development efforts.

Commissioner Yin further stated that the Department for Youth welcomes collaboration with businesses and organizations worldwide. As Taiwan’s only local government actively promoting youth overseas internships, Taipei is eager to work with high-quality international partners to offer young people more learning opportunities abroad, helping them excel and fully demonstrate their talents on the global stage.

A key segment of the summit introduced innovative methods for precisely calculating carbon emissions in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events. The ESGpedia platform was featured, offering detailed carbon footprint calculations based on event data and emission factors. The Restorify platform was also introduced, providing a public dashboard for tracking carbon offsets, promoting transparency, and reinforcing accountability for carbon neutrality.

JCI Taipei President Ying Shang-rong expressed gratitude to members and participants for their support, highlighting that the summit was not only a valuable opportunity for Taipei’s youth to connect with the Asia-Pacific region but also a platform to foster international exchange, cultural integration, and business opportunities through sustainable initiatives.

The 2024 Asia-Pacific Youth Leadership Summit aimed to build consensus and inspire action among young leaders toward sustainable development, advancing both Taipei's and global sustainability goals. The strong partnership between the Department for Youth and JCI Taipei serves as a cornerstone for promoting sustainable visions through cross-border collaboration and innovative initiatives. Taipei City will continue to take concrete actions, encouraging youth engagement on sustainability issues and paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future. The city remains committed to writing a new chapter in global youth participation and sustainable development.