Minister of Environment Shieu Fuh-sheng (center) co-launches the Asia Pacific AERONET Calibration and Training Center with NASA’s AERONET co-leader Elena Lind from (fourth left) Nov. 2 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Ministry of Environment)
 

The Ministry of Environment co-launched the Asia Pacific AERONET Calibration and Training Center (APAC) with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Nov. 2 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhance air quality monitoring and substantively contribute to climate change research.

According to MOE minister Shieu Fuh-sheng, APAC, located at the Lulin Atmospheric Background Station in Chiayi County will facilitate exchange on environmental monitoring techniques and data with southeast Asian countries. Shieu added that the ministry will also collaborate closely with the Central Weather Administration and Taiwan Space Agency to offer climate change data to the world.

The southern Taiwan facility has cooperated in sharing data with NASA, CWA and TASA for over two decades and this successful long-term cooperation, recognition of the country’s technology and R&D capabilities, together with the number of mountains over 3,000 meters contributed to the decision to base the APAC there. The facility will enable Taiwan to supply data to other Asian countries, assisting them to address air pollution and carbon emissions and raise Taiwan’s profile, the ministry added.

Monitoring equipment from Asian countries is sent to NASA on an annual basis for recalibration and NASA anticipates Taiwan may take over this role in the future, thereby reducing carbon emissions and shipping costs for the countries involved.

The ministry anticipates deepening its participation in environmental monitoring and contributing to global sustainability through the APAC. (POC-E)