A delegation from the CityNet Secretariat visited the New Taipei City Government today. The delegation was received by representatives from the Secretariat and the Fire Department of New Taipei City Government and toured facilities and spaces within the City Hall. CityNet is an international organization established with the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Through inter-city cooperation, exchange, and capacity building, it assists its members in facing challenges and trends brought about by climate change, disasters, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to enhance urban resilience and sustainable development.




The CityNet Secretariat delegation first visited the city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to observe the Disaster Management Information System (EMIS) and the Emergency Data Platform (EDP). The Fire Department also shared with the guests the organization structure, mission, and operating mechanisms of New Taipei City’s Office of Disaster Response.



Subsequently, the Secretariat led the guests to visit the Smart Energy Management Center in the City Hall. The New Taipei City Hall building, which has been completed for over 20 years, has been gradually transformed into an energy-efficient building by the Secretariat in recent years, focusing on energy conservation and carbon reduction, smart energy saving, and creation of a sustainable office environment. This transformation aims to improve the global environment and echo the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The building has received numerous domestic and international awards, including the Gold Medal for the Energy Saving Benchmark Award by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.



Additionally, the Secretariat introduced the guests to the gender-friendly spaces of the City Hall, including the gender-friendly restrooms in the entire B1 area of the Civic Plaza. Adjacent to this area is the Gender Equality Classroom, inaugurated in November, which is the first gender equality base in Taiwan. It aims to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality, starting from the public sector, to provide a better future for the citizens.

Currently, CityNet has 154 members, including local governments, non-governmental organizations, enterprises, and academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. Members in Taiwan include Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, and the International Climate Development Institute. In recent years, New Taipei City has aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and will actively participate in various activities of CityNet, making friends with major international cities through sustainable actions.

Today's visiting guests included CityNet's Deputy Director of Programs Paulie Mora, Project Officers Hui Qian and Erin Um, and Operations Officer Aruna Zhanibek.