Earth Day: Swedish Office in Taipei Donates Sustainability Picture Books to All Hualien Schools – Mayor Hsu: Sustainability is a Daily Practice in Hualien

(中央社訊息服務20250417 11:14:41)In response to Earth Day 422, the Hualien County Government and the Swedish Office in Taipei jointly held a “World Earth Day Press Conference” on April 16 at the 1st-floor lecture hall of the Hualien County Environmental Protection Bureau. In the presence of various county department heads, school principals, and students, Swedish Representative Ms. Margot Helena Elisabeth Reitberger, presented the picture book “Our Hidden Power" to all 126 schools under the Hualien County Government. Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei accepted the books on behalf of the county and called on all sectors of society to support environmental sustainability and work together to protect the planet.

Mayor Hsu emphasized Hualien’s commitment to environmental education and the implementation of the “Net-Zero Carbon Emissions, Sustainable Hualien” policy and the SDGs. Through international cooperation, the county aims to become a sustainable and resource-circulating city. She stressed that this effort is not only for the present generation but also for future generations, with the goal of making Hualien a model of climate resilience. Hsu also highlighted the county’s efforts in promoting renewable energy and reducing plastic use. Initiatives such as the Pushege Biomass Energy Center in Yuli Township and the DAKA Resource Recycling Center by Taiwan Cement Corporation recycle waste materials to reduce carbon emissions and help Hualien steadily progress toward sustainable development.

Swedish Representative Helena Reitberger warmly greeted the students and faculty in fluent Mandarin. She shared his previous visit to the beautiful Taroko National Park and expressed her admiration for the passion of the Hualien people. Despite the geographical distance between Sweden and Taiwan, both share the same goals in environmental conservation. She noted that the Swedish government places great importance on the “green transition” and is committed to protecting the planet's sustainability. She expressed hope for continued cooperation between Sweden and Taiwan on the path to sustainable development.

Chairman Huang Tian-De of Baseload Capital expressed his honor in jointly promoting Earth Day with the Hualien County Government and the Swedish Office in Taipei. He mentioned that the sustainability-themed picture book “Our Hidden Power” introduces various renewable energy sources and is suitable for children. Starting with environmental education, the initiative brings together government, schools, and local partners to drive Hualien’s sustainable development and build a low-carbon homeland.

The picture book “Our Hidden Power" is Taiwan’s first illustrated book introducing geothermal and renewable energy. Through simple and engaging illustrations and stories, it helps children understand the link between environmental sustainability and energy reuse. Hualien’s Director of Education, Weng Shu-Min, added that environmental education in schools is a key educational policy for the county. She expressed deep gratitude to the Swedish Office in Taipei for the donation and hoped for continued bilateral cooperation, using education as a bridge to promote more exchanges in sustainability efforts and protect our planet together.