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Low Carbon Initiative

  /  Low Carbon Initiative

Introduction

The ECCT's Low Carbon Initiative (LCI) was established in June 2012 to showcase the best European low carbon solutions and practices across a broad range of industries and sectors. The purpose is to raise awareness about sustainable development and to promote the adoption of low carbon solutions in order to help Taiwan to reduce its carbon emissions.

To do this the LCI arranges workshops, seminars and conferences together with government agencies and local industry where members can showcase their expertise, best practices and experience. The events are designed to attract participation by corporations, government and non-governmental organisations and on occasion, also the general public. Membership of the LCI is open to all ECCT members.

LCI events are organised into seven main categories. The seven categories include: Green Energy, Green Financing, Energy Efficiency, Green Mobility, Smart Cities, Smart Manufacturing, and Circular Economy.

The ECCT started the Low Carbon Initiative (LCI) to showcase the best European low carbon solutions and practices across a broad range of industries, to raise awareness about sustainable development and promote the adoption of low carbon solutions in order to help Taiwan to reduce its carbon emissions.

The LCI is endorsed and sponsored by companies and institutions that are members of the ECCT. LCI members have contributed to cover the costs of a small project office, the official launch of the LCI, which took the form of an Exhibition & Conference on 12 June 2012, and other project-based activities. Members have also committed their expertise to create a communication platform to exchange best practices and experiences with all stakeholders. Membership of the LCI is open to any member of the ECCT that is willing to endorse the project in a pecuniary or non-pecuniary way.

The European Union is a leading proponent of sustainability both in political and economic terms. The European Commission and the governments of the EU's 27 member states have played a pioneering role in creating a political and legal framework to change their way of doing business and lower carbon emissions. These go even further than reducing carbon emissions to levels set by the Kyoto Protocol guidelines. Successful examples are establishing regulations (2002/91/EC and 2006/32/EC) and the formulation of a European strategy towards renewable energy targets (national renewable energy action plans formulated in June 2010) by 2020. The EU is actively communicating and partnering with countries outside the EU to build an alliance to fight climate change, reduce dependence of fossil fuels and increase the efficiency of resources used for production and consumption. An example of this approach is the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (third countries can join this system and trade their carbon emissions with EU member states and companies).

Besides government activities, which go as far back as the 1970s, European companies have actively embraced and developed sustainable solutions. Sustainability is no longer something firms are just paying lip service to. It has become an integral part of the way European firms do business. Nearly every leading company has integrated sustainability, "green" or low carbon solutions into their internal strategies and visions. They behave as responsible citizens and also promote their ideas among the ranks of their employees, stakeholders and customers.

The Taiwan government is aware of the leading role of EU nations and companies and has adopted many European approaches to sustainability.

For example, the government has copied aspects of the German renewable energy act, studied the UK's building codes and the deployment of renewable energy in Denmark, to name a few examples. Local communities in Taiwan already recognize the importance of a local strategy to decrease carbon emissions and pollution to improve the general quality of life. The central government is aware that the current path of industrial development is not sustainable and has put an extreme burden on government finances and also restricted the competiveness of local companies. A large number of Taiwanese companies have also started their own sustainability or green technology programmes.

The LCI is the platform to move these local initiatives forward and match them with the European experience and strategies to the mutual benefit of European stakeholders in Taiwan, Taiwanese companies, the government and the general public.

Mission Statement

Raise awareness of low carbon solutions and work toward a low carbon society

  • Promote European and international standards in close alignment with ECCT committees and as published in the annual ECCT Position Papers
  • Showcase best practises and solutions from LCI member companies for the purpose of experience sharing with the Taiwan government agencies and local industry

LCI Structure

The LCI in 2017 analyzed Taiwan’s new government’s 5+2 policy and the LCI members’ core competencies, set up seven categories: Green Energy, Green Financing, Energy Efficiency, Green Mobility, Smart Cities, Smart Manufacturing, Circular Economy. Based on Taiwan’s policy movement from 2020 to 2024, the LCI in 2020 has created the four working groups: Green Finance, Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate PPA working group, Energy Saving and Green Building working group, Eco-mobility & Eco-logistics working group, Sustainable Supply Chain working group, and Industry-Academia Cooperation under the existing 7 categories.

LCI Chair & Vice Chairs

The LCI is overseen by the LCI Chair & Three Vice Chairs, which ensures that all LCI activities are subject to the ECCT's ethical and procedural standards. In edition to the  ECCT CEO and the LCI Director, four LCI members also serve on the LCI steering committee. These four members are elected to serve a one-year term at the LCI annual meeting, which is normally held in December.

The LCI 2024 Chair & Vice Chairs: 

Mr. H. Henry Chang

LCI Chair / Principal of Baker & McKenzie

Mr. Freddie Höglund

ECCT CEO

Mr. Giuseppe Izzo

LCI Vice Chair / MD Taiwan & VP of Asia Pacific Region STMicroelectronics Ltd.

Ms. Jennifer Wang

LCI Vice Chair / Managing Director of TÜV Rheinland Taiwan Ltd.

Mr. Sean McDermott

LCI Vice Chair / Managing Director of Northland Power Inc.

Mr. Olivier Letessier

LCI Vice Chair / President of Air Liquide Far Eastern

LCI Staff

Deborah Chiang

Energy Transition & Sustainability Director

deborah.chiang@ecct.com.tw

Tel: +886-2-2740-0236 ext. 227

Annie Shih

Energy Transition & Sustainability Officer

annie.shih@ecct.com.tw

Tel: +886-2-2740-0236 ext. 229

Helen Chiang

Energy Transition & Sustainability Officer

helen.chiang@ecct.com.tw

Tel: +886-2-2740-0236 ext. 230

LCI Members

The Low Carbon Initiative was founded by members from private enterprises, government and other institutions. Each LCI member is privileged to join and speak at the LCI programmes and activities under the 5 platforms within the seven categories. Enquiries about joining the LCI should be made to LCI Officer, Ms. Annie Shih at annie.shih@ecct.com.tw

2023 LCI Member Companies (in alphabetical order):

LCI's Trade Office Members