The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) just concluded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, attracting great attention from all over the world. It shows that the net-zero transformation is a serious issue that the current academic community should actively and seriously address. In addition, the rapid development of the digital economy has also caused considerable changes in financial law. The Science and Technology Law Institute of the Information Industry Policy Promotion Association (Information Science and Technology Law Institute) joined hands with the Institute of Financial and Economic Law (IFEL), STUST. Under the sponsorship of the Chang Li-tang Cultural and Educational Student Aid Foundation, STUST held the 2023 Net Zero and Digital Transformation Legal Academic Seminar. The seminar especially invited Deputy Chairman Ke-he Shih of the National Development Council and Deputy Executive Director Bo-ren Shiao of the Information Policy Council to serve as keynote speakers in the morning session, focusing on net zero and digital transformation.

【A group photo of the distinguished guests attending the 2023 Net Zero and Digital Transformation Legal Academic Seminar held by STUST.】

Ke-he Shih, Deputy Chairman of the National Development Council, said that the net-zero transformation is an important policy for Taiwan's national development. The National Development Council has announced the "General Description of Taiwan's 2050 Net-Zero Emission Path and Strategy," "12 Key Strategic Action Plans," etc. These are important policies to implement the net zero vision. In February this year, the Climate Change Response Act was announced to promote corporate carbon reduction through carbon pricing. At the same time, a carbon trading platform and a carbon rights trading mechanism were established. Deputy Chairman Shih pointed out that there are two foundations for the "2050 Net Zero Transformation." The former was "technological research and development" on the technical side, and the latter was "climate law" on the legal side. Deputy Chairman Shih also encouraged the teachers and students to invest in relevant research on legal systems and even just transformation, ensuring that the core value of "trying to leave no one behind" is implemented in the process of promoting net-zero transformation. Overall, the "Net Zero Technology Plan" was approved by the Executive Yuan in March 2023. About 11.5 billion NTD was invested in the technology budget to focus on the construction of a technology governance infrastructure plan required for the country's 2050 net zero goal, with five major planned technology areas for research and development, integrated with a people-centered promotion strategy. The entire project is grand and ambitious.

【Vice President Rui-shing Chang of STUST was delivering a speech at the seminar.】

In terms of digital transformation, Deputy CEO Shiao pointed out that the focus of digital economic development lies in the two major areas, namely "core industry development" and "digital transformation of various departments." The European Union, Japan, Singapore, the United States, and South Korea have relevant policies to respond to the economic development issues of digital transformation. Regarding the situation in Taiwan, Deputy CEO Shiao mentioned that 75% of Taiwanese companies have digital transformation thinking, and most companies are willing to adopt it. However, most Taiwanese companies are still confused about how to implement it. According to recent statistics, more than half of companies still lack consistency in their digital strategies. How to respond to this "easier said than done" challenge, therefore, requires the public and private sectors to work together to break through in the future.

【Vice Chairman Ke-he Shih of the National Development Council was making his special Lecture.】

At the paper presentation session in the afternoon, the Institute of Financial Law invited Deputy Director Jiong-zhi Liao of the Bureau of Information, Taichung City Government, Prof. Tai-ren Bai-Jiang of Deming University of Science and Technology, Section Chief Chen-hu Choui of the Information Policy Institute, Section Chief Yi-ru Ke, Attorney Yifang Lin from Jing-cheng Information Company, and Prof. Shun-shu Hsu of the Institute of Financial Law, STUST. Deputy Director Zhen-hao Gu of the Science and Technology Institute of Law and of the of Science and Technology, and Director Chin-fu Liao of the Institute of Science and Law, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, served as moderators. Observations and analyzes were made on Taichung City’s efforts to promote sustainable net-zero goals, Japanese society’s 5.0 digital transformation, British biomass energy policy, net-zero transition law policy planning, corporate governance, corporate sustainability and net-zero standards. Moreover, they had great communication with the audience in the seminar.

【Deputy Executive Director Bo-ren Shiao was delivering his special lecture at the seminar.】

Rui-shing Chang, Vice President of STUST, said in his opening speech that in view of the rapid changes in the world, legal research must strive to keep up with the times. As a country governed by the rule of law, Taiwan relies on a solid legal foundation to be more in line and advance smoothly with international standards in terms of it's net-zero transformation and digital transformation. Vice President Chang also encouraged teachers and students to make good use of the university's advantages in fully linking up with industrial and technical personnel, paying more attention to the research on various legal issues related to net-zero transformation and digital transformation in the future.

【A group photo of the first paper presentation at the 2023 Net Zero and Digital Transformation Legal Academic Seminar at STUST】

【A group photo of the second paper presentation of the 2023 Net Zero and Digital Transformation Legal Academic Seminar at STUST】