Mayor answers questions in EPD Junior Commissioners Q&A
Mayor answers questions in EPD Junior Commissioners Q&A
New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu played the role of a teacher today and held a discussion forum with the young environmental protection junior commissioners from the city’s elementary schools. Mayor Chu said that the questions raised by the young students are very thoughtful. The mayor hopes that each junior commissioner will raise the awareness of his or her classmates and family members so that we can all join the effort to protect the environment
At today’s event, the junior commissioners eagerly put forth their questions: one young student advocated vehicle-free day, one student asked about the ongoing drought, and one wanted to know how the mayor plans to deal with vehicle emission polluters. In responding to the representatives, the mayor jokingly remarked on how high-pressure the question and answer session turned out to be, but, nevertheless, the mayor gave in-depth answer for each question asked.
Mayor Chu said that reducing water and electricity consumption is very important. Take for example New Taipei City, the city’s population is 4 million, and, if each citizen saved one 1KWh of energy per day, then New Taipei City can save 1.4 billion KWh of energy per year. The mayor said of teething brushing: if a person does not turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, the amount of water consumed by him or her amounts to an African family water consumption for a day.
On the topic of PM2.5 air pollution, Mayor Chu said that PM2.5 is harmful to the human airway and lungs; it can also lead to allergic reactions. The mayor asked who has allergies, and almost half of the students raised their hands, eliciting gasps of surprise from the crowd. Mayor Chu says that this is how air pollution can directly change our lives, and everyone needs to do his or her best to protect the environment and reduce environmental pollution.
The Environmental Protection Department indicates that today is last session for the “New Taipei City’s 12 Lessons for the Environmental Protection Junior Commissioner” program. The previous 11 lessons included “Cleaning Team Captain for a Day,” “Low Carbon Mission,” “Environmental Detective,” “Goalie for Water Quality,” and others. Other than environmental protection content, the program also included current events, societal trends, national future, environmental vision, and other topics of a diverse range.
The Environmental Protection Department emphasized, for this year’s environmental protection season, the 100 environmental protection junior commissioners will lead their schools faculty and student bodies to realize “one action that will make the earth a better place.” These actions include turning off the lights during class break times, lunch times, and lunch breaks; collect water from hand washing to clean toilets and water the plants. These activities serve as seeds for the broader effort to conserve water and electricity.
For more information: Environmental Protection Department, Low Carbon Center; Chu, Yijun; Tel: 1999 or (02)2953-2111 ext. 3201.