Taiwan orders citizens to take environmental lessons

Yahoo News 18 May 10;

TAIPEI (AFP) – Taiwan has become one of the world's first societies to impose mandatory environmental education in its bid to protect its fragile environment, authorities said Tuesday.

Under the new law passed Tuesday, all companies, non-profit organisations and schools should offer at least four hours of environmental lessons each year, said the Environmental Protection Administration.

Violators will risk being shut down, it said in a statement, adding the law would "usher in a new era for Taiwan's environmental protection".

Environmentally conscious Taiwan is keen to promote green technologies and architecture as it seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The island's parliament last year passed a major renewable energy bill aimed at adding between 6,500 and 10,000 megawatts of installed energy from renewable sources over the next 20 years.

Currently, Taiwan has only 2,278 megawatts from renewable sources, according to state-run Taiwan Power Co.