December 20, 2023
No. 447
The 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) commenced in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 30. Eleven diplomatic allies spoke up for Taiwan during the World Climate Action Summit and the high-level segment of COP28. At the closing plenary session on December 13, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock said that Taiwan and other countries were paying close attention to the outcomes of the meeting. This marked the first time that a like-minded nation had used the UNFCCC/COP to call for a global environmental governance mechanism that integrates all the efforts of the international community including Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sincerely appreciates this expression of support.
Referring to a comment made by the COP28 president about thanking his family, Minister Baerbock pointed out that, as German foreign minister, she believed it was most important that everyone—whether they hailed from Germany, Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Colombia, or Taiwan—thought of their families at this critical moment and what their families would ask when they returned home. She stated that this was the moment when everyone joined forces and united in diversity, enabling them to deliver on the goals they had looked to achieve at COP28. Noting that the world could not just continue as it had in the past and that this was the moment for moving forward, Minister Baerbock added that the participants had decided at COP28 on this day that they could save the future for their children only if they worked together.
Climate change transcends borders. When facing a human crisis, Taiwan will stand with other nations. Taiwan is willing to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the international community and work closely with other countries to contribute to combating global climate change. Taiwan calls on nations worldwide to support its meaningful participation in the UNFCCC. (E)