Taipei, June 21 (CNA) The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Tuesday it will release the first guidance for cities to conduct a carbon inventory by the end of June amid Taiwan's efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The guidance, which goes in line with international standards, will allow city governments to build capacity for combating climate change at the local level, said EPA Specialist Chen I-chia.

Chen said the guidance will provide Taiwan's 22 local governments with detailed information on sampling methods, field measurement and calculation procedures toward estimating carbon dioxide emissions.

As cities begin to work on the same page, Chen explained, it will become easier for them to exchange information domestically and then reach out for international cooperation.

The EPA said nine of the local governments, including Taipei, Kaohsiung and Tainan, have been active members on the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the largest association of local governments worldwide working on sustainable development.

"It is more effective to fight global warming at the city level," said Juliette Hsu, assistant general manager of the Environmental Science Technology Consultants Corporation, which was commissioned by the EPA to carry out the project.

Hsu said since local governments have first-hand knowledge of their economies, they can make adjustments on urban planning to address environmental issues.

It is also a good opportunity for Taiwan to showcase itself on the global stage, she said.

"Taiwan's future is largely pillared on environmental diplomacy. We are staying ahead on new initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Hsu said.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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