From Environmental History to From Environmental History to Sustainable Future: An Agenda Sustainable Future: An Agenda

for Urban Interdisciplinary for Urban Interdisciplinary Research and Practice Research and Practice

Hsin-Huang Michael HsiaoHsin-Huang Michael HsiaoDirector, Institute of Sociology, Academia Director, Institute of Sociology, Academia

SinicaSinicaChair Professor, College of Hakka StudiesChair Professor, College of Hakka Studies

National Central UniversityNational Central University

Panel 2: Overcoming the Challenges: Ways Panel 2: Overcoming the Challenges: Ways Forward in Urban Interdisciplinary Forward in Urban Interdisciplinary

Research & PracticeResearch & Practice

22ndnd International UGEC Conference International UGEC Conference Nov. 6-8, 2014Nov. 6-8, 2014Taipei, TaiwanTaipei, Taiwan

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I. Two I. Two Challenges: Challenges: 1. New Initiative is required to build holistic 1. New Initiative is required to build holistic research research frameworks and approaches to meet the frameworks and approaches to meet the urban urban sustainability challenges that face humanity.sustainability challenges that face humanity.

2. New way is also required to foster and 2. New way is also required to foster and maintain inter- maintain inter- and transdisciplinary in urbanization and and transdisciplinary in urbanization and global global environmental change research that can environmental change research that can fulfill the fulfill the requirement to link, science, policy and requirement to link, science, policy and practice. practice.

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To meet the above challenges, my previous To meet the above challenges, my previous and current research interest in Taiwan’s and current research interest in Taiwan’s local environmental history and visions for local environmental history and visions for local sustainable development might offer local sustainable development might offer some clues to overcome the challenges.some clues to overcome the challenges.

My proposed agenda are: first, to bring My proposed agenda are: first, to bring “environmental history” back in the urban “environmental history” back in the urban environmental change research, and environmental change research, and second, to inform the science-policy-second, to inform the science-policy-practice nexus with the sustainability vision practice nexus with the sustainability vision for specific local (urban) studies. for specific local (urban) studies.

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II. To Bring Environmental History II. To Bring Environmental History Back in the Back in the Urban Environmental Change Urban Environmental Change ResearchResearch1. To trace the environmental change (environmental 1. To trace the environmental change (environmental pollutions and nature depletion) caused by human pollutions and nature depletion) caused by human actions (economic and political) and the ways in actions (economic and political) and the ways in which which human-caused changes in the environment have human-caused changes in the environment have rebounded and effected the course in specific rebounded and effected the course in specific localities. localities. 2. From “environmental history”, we can learned 2. From “environmental history”, we can learned lessons, lessons, mistakes, responsibilities and remedies, in mistakes, responsibilities and remedies, in relations to relations to urban environmental change impacts and urban environmental change impacts and consequences. consequences.

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3. Five metropolitan cities as case studies: Taipei, New 3. Five metropolitan cities as case studies: Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and KaohsiungTaipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung

4. Four critical questions to ask: 4. Four critical questions to ask: (1) The most important policies that have caused local (1) The most important policies that have caused local environmental problems or nature degradation? (historical environmental problems or nature degradation? (historical causes)causes)

(2) The most significant social force (NGO, NPO, civil society (2) The most significant social force (NGO, NPO, civil society organization) that have been mobilized to cope with the organization) that have been mobilized to cope with the above environmental problems? (social responses)above environmental problems? (social responses)

(3) The major impacts of the above civil society’s (3) The major impacts of the above civil society’s environmental environmental movements that have eventually made the alternative road movements that have eventually made the alternative road to to local sustainability? (major impacts)local sustainability? (major impacts)

(4) The noticeable environmental innovations ever initiated by (4) The noticeable environmental innovations ever initiated by respective local governments? (environmental innovations)respective local governments? (environmental innovations)

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5. The Tale of Five Cities5. The Tale of Five Cities

Taipei Metropolitan City Taipei Metropolitan City (( 台北市台北市 ) ) (population: (population: 2,618,722)2,618,722)

(1) Historical Causes (1) Historical Causes 1960 “Investment Facilitation Act” → rapid yet 1960 “Investment Facilitation Act” → rapid yet unregulated industrializationunregulated industrialization

(2) Social Responses(2) Social Responses 1981 Rescue effort of Guan-Du bird habitat by 1981 Rescue effort of Guan-Du bird habitat by Taipei Taipei Wild Bird Association due to massive Wild Bird Association due to massive pollution pollution of Tam-sui River.of Tam-sui River.

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(3) Institutional Impacts (3) Institutional Impacts 1996 Guan-Du Nature Conservation Park was 1996 Guan-Du Nature Conservation Park was finally finally established.established. 2001 The City government contracted out Taipei 2001 The City government contracted out Taipei Wild Bird Wild Bird Association to manage the Park for Association to manage the Park for conservation, conservation, education, and recreation functions.education, and recreation functions.

(4) Environmental Innovations (4) Environmental Innovations 1996 Effectively enforced the “no garbage on the 1996 Effectively enforced the “no garbage on the ground” ground” policy to clean up the city streets.policy to clean up the city streets. 2007 Step by step to implement “paid garbage 2007 Step by step to implement “paid garbage bags” to bags” to reduce the daily urban solid waste by 65%.reduce the daily urban solid waste by 65%.

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New Taipei Metropolitan City New Taipei Metropolitan City (( 新北市新北市 ) ) (population: 3,897,367)(population: 3,897,367)

(1) Historical Causes (1) Historical Causes 1973 “Regional Plans Act” → land zoning for the purpose 1973 “Regional Plans Act” → land zoning for the purpose of industrial use → widespread of industrial parks of industrial use → widespread of industrial parks in in various categories of lands. various categories of lands. Ministry of Economic Affairs encouraged the Ministry of Economic Affairs encouraged the construction of factories in hillsides with low prices construction of factories in hillsides with low prices → → unregulated overuse of hillsides → mount unregulated overuse of hillsides → mount landslidelandslide

(2) Social Responses(2) Social Responses 1988 till now “Anti-Nuclear 4th Power Plant Movement” 1988 till now “Anti-Nuclear 4th Power Plant Movement” was was staged in the proposed plant site (Yen-Liao) staged in the proposed plant site (Yen-Liao) → → nation wide movementnation wide movement

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(3) Institutional Impacts(3) Institutional Impacts National nuclear energy policy under attack and National nuclear energy policy under attack and nationwide nationwide controversy and debate have continued for more controversy and debate have continued for more than 24 years.than 24 years.

(4) Environmental Innovations(4) Environmental Innovations 2003 Former Taipei County Government decided 2003 Former Taipei County Government decided to develop a to develop a large-scale (300 hectares) “constricted wetland” large-scale (300 hectares) “constricted wetland” for the purpose for the purpose of water treatment of Ta-Han River → daily of water treatment of Ta-Han River → daily sewage treatinent of sewage treatinent of more than 300,000 tons, about 1/4 of New Taipei more than 300,000 tons, about 1/4 of New Taipei City’s total City’s total quantityquantity

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Taichung Metropolitan City Taichung Metropolitan City (( 台中市台中市 ) ) (population: 2,648,419)(population: 2,648,419)

(1) Historical Causes (1) Historical Causes 1964 Revision of “Urban Planning Act”1964 Revision of “Urban Planning Act” 1975-77 “The lst to 4th Urban Development Plans of 1975-77 “The lst to 4th Urban Development Plans of Taichung City” → rapid urbanization, urban Taichung City” → rapid urbanization, urban pollutions, and expanded industrializationpollutions, and expanded industrialization

(2) Social Responses(2) Social Responses 1986- “Anti-Thermal Power Plant Movement” 1986- “Anti-Thermal Power Plant Movement” organized by Taichung County Pollution organized by Taichung County Pollution Prevention Association.Prevention Association. 1988- “Protect Forest Movement” initiated by 1988- “Protect Forest Movement” initiated by locallocal environmentalists. environmentalists. 2006-2010 “Rescue Huei-Lai Historical Site Alliance” 2006-2010 “Rescue Huei-Lai Historical Site Alliance” in the in the course of new urban land development course of new urban land development projects.projects. 10

(3) Institutional Impacts(3) Institutional Impacts 1988 Local participation in monitoring the thermal 1988 Local participation in monitoring the thermal power power plant air quality by establishing a task force plant air quality by establishing a task force by 4 local by 4 local environmental organizations in central environmental organizations in central Taiwan.Taiwan. 2010 Establishment of the officially designated 2010 Establishment of the officially designated Hwei-Lai Hwei-Lai Historical Site, the first in Taichung.Historical Site, the first in Taichung.

(4) Environmental Innovations(4) Environmental Innovations 2000- After the 1999 Earthquake, former Taichung 2000- After the 1999 Earthquake, former Taichung county county government decided to “Seize the Central government decided to “Seize the Central Mountain Mountain Range” in order to protect the mountain and Range” in order to protect the mountain and forest forest from further development. from further development. 11

Tainan Metropolitan City Tainan Metropolitan City (( 台南市台南市 ) ) (population: 1,873,794)(population: 1,873,794)

(1) Historical Causes (1) Historical Causes 1960s-1970s Manufacturing Industrial growth → toxic 1960s-1970s Manufacturing Industrial growth → toxic heavy mental river pollution and uncontrolled heavy mental river pollution and uncontrolled solid wastesolid waste 1970s-1990s Improper urban land development and 1970s-1990s Improper urban land development and expansionexpansion 2002 Problematic “Law Governing the Reuse of 2002 Problematic “Law Governing the Reuse of Industrial Waste” causing more serious and Industrial Waste” causing more serious and uncontrolled toxic waste in many local uncontrolled toxic waste in many local highways and streets .highways and streets .

(2) Social Response(2) Social Response 1994- “Rescue Wetland (and Black-faced spoonbill) Task 1994- “Rescue Wetland (and Black-faced spoonbill) Task Force” mobilized by local environmentalists and Force” mobilized by local environmentalists and elites.elites.

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(3) Institutional Impacts(3) Institutional Impacts 2009 Establishment of the “Tai-Chiang Wetland 2009 Establishment of the “Tai-Chiang Wetland National National Park”, first in Taiwan.Park”, first in Taiwan.

(4) Environmental Innovations(4) Environmental Innovations 2010 “Tai-Kang Organic Agriculture Specialized 2010 “Tai-Kang Organic Agriculture Specialized District” District” 2011 “Tainan Environmental Coalition” join 2011 “Tainan Environmental Coalition” join force by local force by local environmental agency (EPA), environmental agency (EPA), environmentalists, environmentalists, environmental NGOs, experts and environmental NGOs, experts and scholars, police scholars, police offices, and local District Attorney Office offices, and local District Attorney Office to monitor to monitor the local pollution sources.the local pollution sources. 13

Kaohsiung Metropolitan City Kaohsiung Metropolitan City (( 高雄市高雄市 ) ) (population: 2,773,483)(population: 2,773,483)

(1) Historical Causes (1) Historical Causes 1970s Big push for Export Processing Zones (EPZ), 1970s Big push for Export Processing Zones (EPZ), establishment of Public Enterpriser (Steel, establishment of Public Enterpriser (Steel, Oil, Oil, Shipyard) and Exporting Harbors → serious Shipyard) and Exporting Harbors → serious air and air and water pollution → environmental injustice for water pollution → environmental injustice for working class city dwellersworking class city dwellers

(2) Social Responses(2) Social Responses 1987-1990 “Anti-Fifth Oil Refinery (Taiwan’s China 1987-1990 “Anti-Fifth Oil Refinery (Taiwan’s China Oil Oil Company) Self-Help Protests” by local Company) Self-Help Protests” by local residents residents and leaders.and leaders.

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(3) Institutional Impacts(3) Institutional Impacts 1993 “Pollution Disputes Resolution Act” 1993 “Pollution Disputes Resolution Act”

1994 “Environmental Impact Assessment Act”1994 “Environmental Impact Assessment Act”

(4) Environmental Innovations(4) Environmental Innovations 1977-2008 City Government’s effort to clean up 1977-2008 City Government’s effort to clean up Love Love River (River ( 愛河愛河 ))

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III. Lessons Learned from the III. Lessons Learned from the History?History?

1. Causes: unregulated industrialization and ill 1. Causes: unregulated industrialization and ill planned planned urbanization in the 1950s-1960s urbanization in the 1950s-1960s

2. Consequences: 2. Consequences: - environmental problems: environmental pollution, - environmental problems: environmental pollution, nature depletion and resources mismanagement nature depletion and resources mismanagement - conflicts of perpetrators vs. victims- conflicts of perpetrators vs. victims - perpetuation of social inequality and - perpetuation of social inequality and environmental environmental injusticeinjustice - unholy alliance of anti-environmental state and - unholy alliance of anti-environmental state and pro-pro- growth capitalist class and the emergence of growth capitalist class and the emergence of “growth “growth machine” machine”

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3. Reactions since 1980s 3. Reactions since 1980s - anti-pollution protests- anti-pollution protests - nature conservation movements- nature conservation movements - anti-nuclear (power) movements- anti-nuclear (power) movements

4. Environment friendly social innovations?4. Environment friendly social innovations?

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IV. Visions for the Future Sustainable IV. Visions for the Future Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

1. It is advisable to construct and launch “vision(s)” for 1. It is advisable to construct and launch “vision(s)” for local (urban) (regional) sustainable development so local (urban) (regional) sustainable development so as as to develop plausible related policies and workable to develop plausible related policies and workable practices.practices.

2. It is also imperative to be aware of the major 2. It is also imperative to be aware of the major existing existing environmental/ developmental issues facing specific environmental/ developmental issues facing specific localities that need to be effectively resolved prior localities that need to be effectively resolved prior to to the realization of any policy or program. the realization of any policy or program.

3. Five “regions” as case studies: Northern, Central, 3. Five “regions” as case studies: Northern, Central, Southern, Eastern, and Offshore islands.Southern, Eastern, and Offshore islands.

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Vision: Eco-Cities

Major Issues: 1. Hillside

overdevelopment 2. Water quantity

and quality 3. Over-

consumption

Triple links of “science-

policy-practice”?19

4. Sustainable Visions for the Five Regions

Vision: Eco-Agriculture

Major Issues:1. Post-disaster

reconstruction 2. Coastal

management3. Green

communities

Triple links of “science-

policy-practice”?

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Vision: Eco-Industries

Major Issues: 1. Air pollution2. River

pollution3. Industrial

Parks Relocation

Triple links of “science-

policy-practice”?21

Vision: Nature

Conservation

Major Issues: 1. Coastal

conservation2. Eco-tourism

and local sustainability

3. Green GDP: myth or reality?

Triple links of “science-

policy-practice”?22

Vision:Conserving small

island ecology and

cultures

Major Issues:1. Small island vulnerability 2. Island tourism 3. Unique cultures:

Austronesian and early Han Chinese immigrant cultural heritages

Triple links of “science-

policy-practice”?23

V. Conclusion: “Green Triangle” for V. Conclusion: “Green Triangle” for the Driving the Driving Forces Learning from the History Forces Learning from the History and Move for and Move for the Future the FutureLocal Government (G)Local Government (G)

Local Civil Society Organizations and NGOs (NGOs)Local Civil Society Organizations and NGOs (NGOs)

Local Business (B)Local Business (B)

GG

BB NGOsNGOs

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1. Urban NGOs and civil society force should be 1. Urban NGOs and civil society force should be taken taken more seriously in their roles played in urban more seriously in their roles played in urban environmental history-making and the roles to environmental history-making and the roles to play in play in making urban sustainability in the future.making urban sustainability in the future.

2. Urban NGOs and civil society force should also 2. Urban NGOs and civil society force should also be the be the new research focus for the:new research focus for the: - creation of “citizen science”- creation of “citizen science” - formulation of “participatory policy”- formulation of “participatory policy” - implementation of “effective practice” of urban - implementation of “effective practice” of urban sustainable development.sustainable development.

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