2026 ELECTIONS/12 mayoral candidates sign sustainability pledges ahead of elections

Taipei, Oct. 12 (CNA) Twelve candidates in Taiwan's upcoming local government elections have signed pledges to promote sustainable and resilient policies if elected, civic groups said Monday.

The names of the 12 candidates who have signed the pledges to date were announced at a press conference held Monday by civic groups, including the Taipei-based Green Citizens' Action Alliance (GCAA) and the Taiwan Climate Action Network (TCAN).

The groups have invited candidates running for mayor in Taiwan's six special municipalities to sign a pledge on 18 policies in the areas of renewable energy, disaster preparedness and resilience, heat adaptation, flood management, and sustainable transportation.

The 12 candidates who have signed the full pledge include Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋).

Tainan mayoral candidate Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) has signed it in part, while candidates Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) and Johnny Chiang (江啟臣), who are running in New Taipei and Taichung, respectively, have declined to sign, the groups said.

The pledge addresses practical governance issues, including urban disaster preparedness, energy resilience, transportation, and protections for disadvantaged groups, the advocates said, adding that climate risks transcend party lines.

At Monday's press conference, GCAA senior researcher Chen Shih-ting (陳詩婷) urged all mayoral candidates to equip community facilities such as schools, activity centers, long-term care centers, and emergency shelters with solar power, energy storage systems, and microgrids to ensure they can operate independently during disasters.

Lee You-jen (利祐任), a research assistant at TCAN, said local governments should incorporate heat adaptation into disaster preparedness and public health policies as extreme heat becomes more frequent and severe in Taiwan.

He urged the local governments to identify high-risk areas and vulnerable populations, prioritize shaded and cooling spaces in under-resourced communities, and improve insulation and ventilation in older homes to make them more heat-resistant and extend their lifespan.

Meanwhile, Tsou Ming-hsuan (鄒明軒), secretary-general of the Taiwan Rivers Network, said at the press conference that torrential rainfall has become frequent in recent years, with a single downpour sometimes exceeding the capacity of existing drainage systems.

He called for greater use of land and urban spaces to manage flooding, for nature-based solutions in river management, and for more resources to help communities and households prepare for floods and reduce damage.