The course focuses on the importance of global sustainable environmental development, particularly under the framework of the United Nations Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement. It explores energy use and its derived environmental issues, as well as how these issues provoke complex developments and conflicts on the international political stage. Through the analysis of North-South confrontations and the multilateral negotiations on environment and trade proposed in the WTO's Doha Declaration, students learn how globalized free trade seeks a balance with multilateral environmental protection agreements.
Additionally, the course emphasizes Taiwan's environmental responsibilities as a trade-dependent nation, discussing how to shift from mere pollution control to actively integrating international norms, pursuing clean energy, its benefits, and sustainability. By analyzing Taiwan's participation in the WTO and adjusting relevant policies, the course aims to lay the foundation for Taiwan's international engagement and development of the green industry.
Another significant contribution of the course is the discussion on how to resolve the alignment between energy policy and environmental sustainability. As Taiwan faces a nuclear-free homeland and increasingly severe environmental issues, the course explores the necessity of policy and regulatory construction to improve interactions between policies and overcome the dilemma of departments working in isolation. By analyzing controversies such as the Electricity Act and the Renewable Energy Development Act, as well as environmental and social issues related to land-based and offshore wind turbines, the course highlights the need for a clear policy framework that aligns with international standards to support sustainable development.
Overall, this course not only provides an in-depth understanding of the basic principles of energy physics but also establishes a comprehensive framework for energy management and natural resource conservation policies from scientific, biological, economic, and cultural perspectives, providing students with a solid foundation for participation and contributions in the field of global environmental sustainability.