Chang Kow-lung

Chang Kow-lung
張國龍
Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration
In office 8 June 2005 – 20 May 2007
Preceded by	Chang Juu-en Tsay Ting-kuei (acting)
Succeeded by	Winston Dang
Personal details
Born	1938 (age 86–87)
Nationality	Taiwanese
Education	National Taiwan University (BS) Yale University (PhD)

Chang Kow-lung (Chinese: 張國蘢; born 1938) is a Taiwanese environmentalist who served as the Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration between 2005 and 2007.

Education and activism

Chang graduated summa cum laude from National Taiwan University in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in physics. He then went to Yale University, where he earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1968. He then taught at National Taiwan University starting in 1976 and participated in Taiwan's environmental movement beginning in the 1980s. In 1988, Chang founded a magazine, New Environment. Shortly afterwards, in 1990, he launched the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union. That year, he became a secretary in the Taipei City Government, where he worked for ten years. In 2000, Chang was named vice minister of examinations.[1][2]

A noted anti-nuclear activist,[3] Chang has served as spokesman for the Nuke-4 Referendum Initiative Association.[4]

Environmental Protection Administration

Premier Frank Hsieh appointed Chang Kow-lung head of the Environmental Protection Administration on 8 June 2005.[5] That August, Chang announced a three-year plan to clean up the polluted Tamsui River.[6] The next month, Chang ordered sanitation companies to stop gathering kitchen waste to use as a component in pig feed, after discussions with the Council of Agriculture.[7] He also worked to pass laws regarding greenhouse gas emissions,[8][9][10] later starting a global warming awareness initiative.[11] Chang supported implementation of an ecotax for Taiwanese factories in 2006.[12] However, the next year, environmentalist Robin Winkler claimed that the EPA favored industry over the environment.[13] Chang then tried to sue Winkler for slandering the EPA.[14] Chang resigned his position in May 2007,[15] and was replaced by Winston Dang in June.[16]

References

1. Shan, Shelley (22 May 2007). "Newsmaker: EPA chief Chang Kow-lung goes out fighting". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
2. Chuang, Jimmy (4 June 2005). "SEF boss aims for 'permanent peace'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
3. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (16 June 2000). "Group to discuss Fourth Nuclear Power Plant plan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
4. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (2 February 2005). "Anti-nuclear group appeals to new premier". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
5. "Hsieh confirms new officials". Taipei Times. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
6. "EPA drafts NT$1bn, three-year Tamsui River clean-up plan". Taipei Times. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
7. "Collection of kitchen waste for pig feed to stop". Taipei Times. 9 September 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
8. "Make laws: conference". Taipei Times. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
9. Shan, Shelley (27 November 2006). "Feature: More needs to be done on climate change: activists". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
10. Shan, Shelley (4 November 2006). "UK's climate review has a message for Taiwan too". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
11. Shan, Shelley (10 April 2007). "EPA starts global warming campaign to educate the public". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
12. "EPA boss backs 'eco-tax'". Taipei Times. 10 March 2006. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
13. Shan, Shelley (19 May 2007). "EPA threatens to file suit over 'slanderous' remarks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
14. Oung, Angelica (25 May 2007). "EPA has to stop project, alliance says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
15. Shan, Shelley (21 May 2007). "Environmentalists want stronger green policies". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
16. "Premier confirms promotion". Taipei Times. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2017.