On the 26th, the Ministry of the Environment hosted the 9th National Environmental Education Awards ceremony. Representing Taoyuan City, the Shulin Community Development Association of Guanyin District and Steven Ko, Chairman of O’right Inc., each received excellence awards in the Community and Individual categories, respectively. This recognition underscores the impressive capabilities of Taoyuan City’s public and private sectors in environmental education. Deputy Director-General Yeh Meng-fen of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP) attended the ceremony on behalf of the Taoyuan City Government to honor this major achievement. In the afternoon, the awardees visited the Presidential Office where they were received by Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim.
Chen Shih-wei, Director-General of the TYDEP, noted that Taoyuan City held its 9th Environmental Education Awards in June last year, which saw participation from various organizations, communities, schools, groups, private enterprises, and individuals, competing in group and individual categories. After rigorous on-site evaluations and scoring by experts and scholars, the Shulin Community Development Association and Mr. Steven Ko distinguished themselves in their respective categories. They were subsequently recommended to represent Taoyuan City in the Ministry of the Environment's final review, where they garnered unanimous commendation from the evaluation committee, culminating in their excellence awards at the national level.
The Shulin Community Development Association in Guanyin District, has effectively brought together diverse volunteer teams, local businesses, and a significant number of foreign migrant workers to create a community focused on environmental sustainability and disaster resilience The Association has successfully leveraged the unique geological features of the "Caota Sand Dunes" to promote environmental education activities, training 17 lecturers to obtain environmental education certification. In terms of disaster prevention and relief, they pioneered the nation's first civilian ecological flood retention system, reducing the risk of local flooding. Residents have also proactively engaged in patrol work, demonstrating the power of community-based disaster prevention. This initiative has not only industrialized disaster prevention education to generate community income but also fostered mutual aid and sustainability. This successful model has attracted international attention, with representatives from the Philippines, the United States, Belize, and other countries visiting to learn from the Association’s experience.
Mr. Steven Ko, Chairman and founder of O’right Inc., has driven the company’s green transformation, making it the world's first zero-carbon beauty and cosmetics enterprise. He actively promotes and shares green business and environmental education concepts, encouraging employees, families, and global customers to practice eco-friendly actions and green living. The company is also actively integrating sustainable development and net-zero emissions initiatives, such as the global "Melting Greenland" project. In 2023, Ko was personally invited by the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to film the environmental documentary "Melting Greenland: Rescue the Marshalls," which was presented at COP 28. His long-term dedication to ESG and environmental education is evident in his influential contributions to environmental education that transcend national borders.
The TYDEP pointed out that Taoyuan City is committed to advancing environmental education. The Shulin Community Development Association and Mr. Steven Ko have been recognized for their excellence at the National Environmental Education Awards. Looking ahead, the city aims to foster public-private partnerships, leveraging the combined strengths of government agencies, schools, groups, enterprises, communities, and individuals to continue promoting environmental education, align with international SDGs and net-zero emissions goals, and strive to build a green, zero-carbon city.