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台灣青年氣候聯盟拜訪臺灣歐盟中心，討論臺灣、歐盟和青年在對抗氣候變遷議題中所扮演的角色

-臺灣歐盟中心外籍實習生Boris Frešo和Marcus Gustafsson報導

臺灣歐盟中心於七月三十日邀請台灣青年氣候聯盟(Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition, TWYCC) 成員和中心外籍實習生就氣候變遷議題，及12月即將於巴黎舉辦的聯合國氣候變遷綱要公約第21次締約方會議(COP21)相互交流。台灣青年氣候聯盟作為台灣第一個以青年為主運作的環境NGO，集結來自台灣各地對環境保育、氣候變遷充滿熱情的青年，以台灣環境議題的青年交流平台為宗旨，擴展青年氣候行動；而歐盟，作為國際社會對抗氣候變遷談判中積極且主要的參與方，持續不斷的追蹤和呼籲國際社會關注氣候變遷議題。然而，儘管對抗氣候變遷刻不容緩，多數國家卻難以提出實質的減緩計畫和目標。
為促進氣候變遷議題的交流，臺灣歐盟中心希望提供與中心歐洲實習生對談的機會，讓台灣青年能就氣候變遷議題交換經驗和建議。

雙方討論在臺灣歐盟中心會議室進行，中心瑞典實習生Marcus，亦是國際青年組織的基督教青年會環境顧問成員 (the YMCA Resource Group the Environment)，首先介紹歐盟的氣候變遷目標。歐盟長年來高度投入氣候變遷議題並領導國際對抗氣候變遷，舉例而言，1997年簽訂的《京都議定書》，歐盟全體會員國一致認可且予以支持，並在2007-2012達成第一承諾期目標（發達國家的溫室氣體排放量應在1990年的基礎上平均減少5.2％），並於2012年在多哈舉行的締約方第18次會議加入《京都議定書》2012-2020第二承諾期目標。特別的是，歐盟近期針對2020年後的歐盟排放交易制度(EU ETS)提出修正草案，以抑制2030年歐盟溫室氣體排放量相較1990年減少40%目標。為達成此目標，歐盟目前正思考如何鼓勵各國，尤其是已開發國家能夠在今年的巴黎締約方會議中做出類似的承諾。

然而，在討論過程中發現，儘管歐盟一直以來扮演積極的角色，但其自身會員國內在處理氣候變遷議題上卻是困難重重。舉例而言，前東方集團國家因為在發展歷程上有別於西歐，總難以找到與其他國家的共同點。過去社會主義國家主要強調對環境破壞影響甚鉅的重工業發展，時至今日這些國家仍未淘汰當時蘇聯時期建立的發電廠和設備，其不但持續排放大量的溫室氣體，更引起老舊核能發電廠安全層面上的考量，身為東歐鄰國的奧地利就多次就此問題表達反對立場。不過值得注意的是，儘管東歐國家仍不傾向廢除核能發展，卻以致力於推動創新科技，如近期推動的新型核能反應爐開發（Allegro計畫），以改善核安問題和減少核廢料產生。

談到核能問題，究竟核能在現今低碳經濟發展中是否是可接受的替代能源，一直是國際不斷討論的議題。儘管在2011年曾發生嚴重的福島第一核電廠核災事故，造成一系列設備損毀、爐心融毀、輻射釋放等災害事件，有一部分的聲音則認為比起繼續依賴煤炭和天然氣所造成嚴重的氣候變遷問題，其風險要少得多。

除分享歐盟在對抗氣候變遷的現況和阻礙，討論中也談到台灣在對抗氣候變遷扮演的角色。立法院在近期宣布三讀通過「溫室氣體減量及管理法」，明訂2050年長期減量目標及相關調整機制，實為在氣候變遷議題上一大邁步。同時，從台灣青年高度關注氣候變遷議題和積極發起行動也可看出，臺灣雖無法正式參與聯合國氣候談判，在氣候變遷議題上卻從不缺席。台灣青年氣候聯盟主要致力於推廣氣候變遷知識、深耕青年培力、追蹤氣候政策並積極參與國際氣候會議，透過舉辦各項國內如台灣青年氣候培訓營等，和國外活動發起和參與，將環境議題推向社會大眾，推出國際，以共同致力於氣候正義與永續發展的落實，年底，他們將選送台灣青年以非政府組織觀察員身分參加在巴黎舉辦的COP21會議。

在飽餐一頓之後，討論也進入尾聲，藉此難得的機會雙方也進一步討論未來的計畫和合作。中心瑞典實習生Marcus介紹其基督教青年會亦將派代表參與年底的COP21會議，並發起氣候營隊(Camp Climate)，提供參與會議之青年住宿與協調倡議行動的空間，以強化青年發聲的力量；另一方面，台灣青年氣候聯盟成員也邀請兩位中心實習生參與原定八月七號到九號的模擬COP21會議（現因颱風影響而延期至八月底或九月初），目標希望能藉由模擬COP21會議現場談判過程、周邊會議、行動和演講，訓練年底即將參與會議的成員。

最後，臺灣歐盟中心兩位外籍實習生謹代表臺灣歐盟中心，感謝台灣青年氣候聯盟此次的參與和分享，預祝他們十一月COP21行能夠一路平安、滿載而歸。

The Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition visits the EU Centre to Discuss Taiwan’s, the EU’s and Young People’s Role in Combating Climate Change

Report by Boris Frešo and Marcus Gustafsson

On the 30th of July, the European Union Centre in Taiwan had the pleasure of welcomingthree members from the Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition (TWYCC) , a nonprofit environmental organisation, to discuss climate change the upcoming UN summit in Paris in December. The European Union is a major and active participants actor in these negotiations, and is paying close attention to the current climate change situation. However, words are often not met with action, since despite the urgency of the matter, countries are having great difficulties in reaching agreement on how to respond concretely to the situation. In this regard, EUTW wishes to contribute to the discussion, and provide the opportunity for young Taiwanese students to share their ideas and suggestions.

We sat down together at the EUTW offices just before lunch. First of all, our colleague Marcus, who also coordinates the YMCA Resource Group the Environment,an international youth advocacy group, introduced and spoke about the EU’s climate change targets.The EU continues to be highly ambitious in its fight against climate change compared to most other countries. For instance, all of the EU members have ratified the so-called Kyoto Protocol. They met their targets under the first commitment period (2007-2012) and all signed up for the second (2012-2020), to continue this work. In particular,in the next 15 years it is planning to reduce the GHG emissions by 40% in comparison with their 1990 levels. Having pledged such a commitment, the challenge now remains of how to encourage the rest of the world to undertake similar targets at the summit in Paris, especially among rich nations.

However,during the discussion it was correctly pointed out that even within the EU circlesthere might be some obstacles to dealing with climate change. For example, countries from the former Eastern Bloc do not always find common ground with the other members, mainly because their development experience was slightly different from western Europe. The socialist planning was primarily focused on heavy industry which subsequently led to serious environmental damage and heavy pollution. Most of these countries have not transformed their outdated power plants and other facilities, often built inthe Soviet era. Not only do this mean that coal plants continue to emit large amounts of carbon emissions, but there is also a security dimension to be considered in relation to their old nuclear plants. For example, Austria, who is the neighbor of several eastern bloc countries admitted to the Union in 2004, often raise objections in this area. Fortunately, even though the eastern countries do not intend to give up nuclear energy, they are promoting innovation in this area. Currently, the development of a new type of nuclear reactor is underway (Project Allegro), which could improve the security and minimise the nuclear waste.

Whether nuclear is an acceptable alternative as we transition to a low-carbon economy was much debated. While the recent Fukushima accident illustrate the disastrous consequences of a nuclear meltdown, it was also argued that this poses less risks than the alternative, which is a continued reliance on goal and gas, leading to more severe climate change.

Taiwan’s role in tackling climate change was also discussed. The executive Yuan recently passed a law, establishing targets to reduce emissions, even though Taiwan is not able to officially participate in the international UN climate negotiations. The best proof that Taiwan is not closing its eyes and ignoring this global challenge is the young generation, which is highly concerned about the threat posed by climate change. The TWYCC primarily focus on outreach activities, to help bring the topic closer to the public, and supporting dialogue both at the national and international level. In order to achieve this, the organisationorganises various activities for students and have partaken as official civil society observers at the UN climate negotiations. They plan to send up to six people to the upcoming conference in Paris.

At the end of the session, while enjoying our lunch together, we had the opportunity to further discuss future cooperation, in particular around the Paris conference to which the YMCA will also be sending youth delegates. The YMCA is hosting Camp Climate – a dedicated space for youth to live and coordinate their advocacy together during the conference, in the hope of strengthening youth participation. Here in Taiwan, the TWYCC is hosting a simulation of negotiations next week already (7-9th of August) to which our two interns were cordially invited. The event aims to introduce members to how the UN conference operates by simulating negotiations, side-events, speeches and actions.

Finally, on behalf of the EUTW, we would like to thank our guests from TWYCC for visiting us, and we wish them a successful, enriching, and of course safe trip to Paris in November.