To advance the green transformation of cities, the Swedish Trade & Invest Council, in partnership with the Kaohsiung City Government, jointly organized the " 2023 Net Zero Sustainable Cities Roundtable Discussion" on August 28th.

The event brought together the Swedish Trade & Invest Council and the Kaohsiung City Government to promote dialogue and collaboration on net-zero initiatives between Taiwan and Sweden.

In 2021, the Swedish Trade & Invest Council, together with Swedish companies operating in Taiwan, established the "Sweden+Taiwan Green Transition Alliance." This alliance has been actively working to promote cooperation in sustainable development and green transition. In 2023, the alliance expanded to include prominent members such as Alfa Laval, Assa Abloy, Atlas Copco, Baseload Power Taiwan, Volvo Cars Taiwan, and Volvo Trucks. Their areas of focus encompass green transportation, sustainable manufacturing, renewable energy, and intelligent sustainable construction.

Notably, in 2022, the Kaohsiung City Government introduced the " Kaohsiung City Zero Net Emission Urban Development Act," which outlined specific strategies in areas like eco-friendly building practices, green transportation, and renewable energy. The ultimate aim is to achieve a 30% reduction in urban carbon emissions by 2030.

During his opening speech, Anders Wollter, the Swedish representative in Taiwan, highlighted Sweden's remarkable second-place ranking in the United Nations' 2023 Sustainable Development Index. He also emphasized Sweden's steadfast commitment to reaching its fossil fuel-free goal by 2045. Achieving the shared net-zero objective necessitates close collaboration among governments, industries, society, and all nations and cities.

Mayor Chen Chi-Mai expressed that Taiwan's economic and trade ties with Sweden are robust. Sweden not only stands as Taiwan's leading trade partner in Northern Europe but is also the second-largest source of foreign investment. Bilateral trade reached a record-breaking $1.79 billion USD last year. In addition to addressing issues such as green energy, gender equality, and women's economic empowerment, cooperation on climate change issues continues to deepen.

The event commenced with a presentation by the Kaohsiung City Government's Environmental Protection Bureau, highlighting the city's path toward net-zero transformation. Subsequently, the discussions revolved around two primary themes: "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" and "Low-Carbon Construction and Green Transportation."

Under the "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" theme, Alfa Laval introduced its heat exchangers, which contribute to exceptional heating and cooling efficiency, thus facilitating energy savings and carbon reduction goals. Atlas Copco elaborated on the role of its air compressors and blowers in advancing green manufacturing. Baseload Power remains dedicated to developing clean and sustainable geothermal power generation, fostering more resilient local communities, and supporting Taiwan in realizing its energy transition vision.

Within the "Low-Carbon Construction and Green Transportation" theme, the Kaohsiung City Government's Transportation Bureau and Public Works Bureau shared insights into the electrification of transportation and intelligent green building practices. Volvo Trucks presented a range of electric trucks tailored to diverse green city public service requirements. Alfa Laval showcased its energy-efficient green building HVAC system, offering effective solutions for carbon emission reduction and energy conservation in construction. Assa Abloy shared its innovative solutions for low-energy smart access control systems.

It is anticipated that the Kaohsiung City Government, local businesses, urban residents, and Sweden will explore further opportunities for collaboration in the future.