::: Comprehensive Planning

Comprehensive Planning

• I. Comprehensive Planning and Sustainable Development

  In accordance with the mandate of the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), Executive Yuan, the Healthy City and Sustainable Development Committee (HCSDC), New Taipei City Government, is a collaboration amongst the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission and the International Vision Working Group, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Working Group, the Health Bureau and the Health and Lohas Working Group, the Bureau of Education and the Sustainable Education Working Group, the Sustainable Vision Working Group, the Urban and Rural Development Bureau and the Urban and Rural Development Working Group, the Economic Development Bureau and the Resources and Industries Working Group, the Bureau of Agriculture and the Biodiversity Working Group, the Water Resources Bureau and the Water Resources Working Group, the Social Affairs Bureau and the Social Welfare Working Group and the Fire Bureau and Public Safety Working Group.
  
  The missions of the Healthy City and Sustainable Development Committee are:
  1. Formulate sustainable development visions and strategies for New Taipei City. Review key legislations associated with sustainable development.
  2. Participate in national and international sustainable development conventions, and establish partnerships with local cities and foreign cities for works in sustainable development; fulfill the responsibility as a member of the global village.
  3. Promote sustainable development of natural resources in New Taipei City green construction and green life and the integration of citizen activities and the environment.
  4. Promote biodiversity and health risk management in order to maintain ecosystem equilibrium and to protect the health of city residents.
  5. Promote and offer support for green technology and green industries to achieve better living quality and sustainable development in economy.
  6. Promote sustainable development education and establish partnerships between public and private sectors in pursuit of sustainable development.　

  
  II. Environmental Impact Assessment in Development Activities

  In the best interest of the nation, environmental protection and economic development should be given equal weight and proceed in parallel. On December 30, 1994, EPA of the Executive Yuan promulgated the“Environmental Impact Assessment Act” (EIAA), the“Implementation Rules for the Environmental Impact Assessment Act” (IREIAA), the“Environmental Impact Assessment Items and Screening Criteria for Development Activities” (EIAISCDA), the“Guidelines for Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities” (GCEIADA), and other ancillary regulations as the reference for future environmental impact assessment. Since environmental concerns should be factored in during the planning stage of various projects, development activities that have failed to meet environmental standards will not be approved . The role of the NTPC/EPB ,therefore, is to evaluate the environmental impact of development activities in accordance with the above regulations in efforts to achieve sustainable development.
  
  According to statistics, from 1995 to the end of 2009, 154 of all 192 submitted cases (including Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, Analysis Reports on the Difference of Environmental Impact, Response Strategies and etc.) passed the environmental impact assessment by the NTPC/EPB . On the other hand, 38 cases were rejected, discontinued, or deemed unsuitable for development. The types of development projects include: high-rise buildings, development of new communities, excess construction soil resource dumping grounds, industrial and commercial integrated districts, cemeteries, bone ash towers, sanitary landfills, industrial waste disposal sites and plants, factories, office buildings, warehouses, temples, nursing homes, road construction projects , and changes in land registration from industrial to housing or commercial districts. High-rise buildings and development of new communities totaled 101 cases, accounting for 60% of all submitted cases. Factories totaled 14 cases, or 8%. Cemeteries and bone ash towers totaled 13 cases, or 8%. Excess construction soil resource dumping grounds totaled 11 cases, or 7%.
  
  
  Key Tasks in Environmental Impact Assessment:
  
  1. Establish a standard operating procedure for environmental impact assessment: In accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, NTPC/EPB formulated the “Structural Guidelines for New Taipei City Environmental Impact Assessment Committee.” In accordance with the guidelines, the Mayor of New Taipei City will invite no less than 10~12 scholars and specialists (with a 2 year term), and select representatives from other agencies and groups to form the 15~17 members committee. The committee shall consists of members specialized in geomorphology, water and land utilization, landscape ecology, socioeconomics, noise and vibration control, soil remediation, waste pollution detection and monitoring, and other related fields .
  2. Formulate “Environmental Impact Assessment Items and Screening Criteria for Development Activities” and “Guidelines for Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment for Development Activities” specifically for New Taipei City.
  3. Reduce processing time by simplifying the operating procedures.
  4. Establish an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mechanism by overseeing the process and cooperating with competent authorities for record tracking.
  5. Effectively review implementation results of environmental monitoring submitted by developers.
  6. Improve participation rate by local community members require developers to post simple environmental impact assessment checklists in appropriate locations as a means of implementing environmental impact assessment through citizen participation.
  7. Further promote and increase training for the environmental impact assessment program promote policies which promote understanding and cooperation amongst local citizens, developers, and competent authorities within industry .
  8. Set up computer databases and system management mechanisms to effectively integrate all monitoring and development data.
  
  

  III. Promotion of Environmental Education and Volunteer Service

  In accordance with national policies, New Taipei City has been promoting the recruitment and training for volunteers to participate in environmental protection proactively. The total of volunteers who participate in the environmental protection is 22,981 in New Taipei City. NTPC/EPD conducted another volunteer training program of river guard in 2004, and the number of river guard volunteers has been increased to 609 so far. In addition, NTPC/EPD is currently formulating programs of short-term, mid-term, and long-term to enhance the number of volunteers and participants in environmental protection by outreach of communities, schools, and associated environmental protection groups.
  
  1. Promotion of Green Procurement
  
  In accordance with the international trends in sustainable resource use, the EPA, of the Executive Yuan has been promoting  ideas of green production and green consumption, and implemented Article 96, also known as the Green Procurement Article 1of the Government Procurement Act (GPA) after years of negotiation and coordination. In addition, the EPA of the Executive Yuan hands out free copies of the “Environmental Label Products Handbook – The Green Consumer Guide.” The range of government procurement includes: office automation in paper use, stationery paper, writing paper, computer equipment, toner cartridges for printers, refrigerators, air conditioners, dual-flush water-saving toilets, and other products with environmental labels. In order to improve the results of green procurement in public agencies, the EPA of the Executive Yuan , further set a goal to achieve 90% in green procurement for year 2011.
  
  
  2. The Green Procurement Article allows a 10% price differential for promoting green products.
  1. Recruit and train volunteer workers specialized for environmental protection.
  2. Improve the green procurement rate to above 91%.
  3. Subsidize the private sector for conducting educational training programs.
  4. Provide guidance and assistance to volunteer workers for the completion of preliminary and related special educational training courses; qualified volunteers can apply the official record books to effectively book the registered volunteer hours.
  
  3. Environmental Education
  
  1. Award organizations, volunteer workers, schools, teachers, students, and other personnel for their work in environmental protection to promote future environmental protection.
  2. Conduct a selection and awards ceremony for model communities.
  3. Promote environmental reforms in communities through various home clean-up programs.
  4. Promote the establishment of community learning centers.
  5. Promote environmental protection in the workplace.
  6. Cooperate with EPA of the Executive Yuan in various types of environmental protection promotion programs.
  7. Actively promote green procurement.