National Sustainable Development Network-Introduction & History


I.	The Executive Yuan (Hereinafter EY), in order to enhance the protection of the environment and ecology, guarantee social fairness and justice, promote economic development, and establish a green silicon island, so as to promote citizens’ living standards and pursue national sustainable development, has set up the National Council for Sustainable Development (hereinafter NCSD).

II.	The duties of the NCSD are as follows:
	1.	Set the vision and strategy of national sustainable development, and evaluate major issues relevant to national sustainable development.
	2.	Coordinate and promote sustainable utilization of water and land resources and sustainable establishment of urban and rural green life, and promote the harmonious coexistence between human activities and the natural environment.
	3.	Coordinate and promote biodiversity conservation and health risk management, so as to ensure human health and ecological balance.
	4.	Coordinate and promote green technology and sustainable industry, so as to reach the dual goal of high environment quality and sustainable economic development.
	5.	Spread the concept of sustainable development, promote the partnership between the government and communities, and carry out the overall task of sustainable development.
	6.	Promote sustainable development cooperation, actively participate in international environmental and sustainable development affairs, and take up the duties of a responsible member of the global village.

III.	The NCSD will have one chairman, the position to be concurrently held by the Premier; there will be one vice-chairman, the position to be concurrently held by the Vice Premier.

IV.	The NCSD will have 25 to 31 council members, who are composed of ministers-without-portfolio, administrators of government agencies, experts and scholars, and representatives of civil groups. The council members are to be appointed by the NCSD Chairman upon the approval of the EY. The term is to last for one year. Reappointment is possible upon the completion of a term.

V.	The NCSD will have one chief executive officer, the position to be concurrently held by a minister-without-portfolio, who is appointed by the NCSD Chairman. The NCSD Chairman will instruct him to supervise the duties of the NCSD. There will be five assistant executive officers to be appointed. These positions are to be concurrently held by the Vice Ministers of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Vice Chairman of the Council of Agricultural, and Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration (hereinafter EPA). The assistant executive officers are to assist the chief executive officer in his affairs.

VI.	The NCSD will have a Secretariat composed of EPA staff appointed by the EPA. It is to be directed by the chief executive officer. Its duties are as follows:
	(1)	Manage the NCSD administrative affairs.
	(2)	Collect and organize data relevant to national sustainable development.
	(3)	Collect and organize data relevant to the tasks of the various working groups.
	(4)	Collect and organize the implementation progress of the decisions reached by the NCSD.
	(5)	Miscellaneous tasks.

VII.	The NCSD convenes a meeting of council members once every three months, with extempore meetings whenever necessary. The Chairman convenes all meetings. When the Chairman is not able to convene a meeting, the Vice-Chairman will act in his stead. During the meeting, heads of relevant ministries or distinguished representatives of the society at large could be invited to attend the meeting as non-voting participants.

VIII.	The NCSD is authorized to set up working meetings, which are convened by the Chief Executive Officer, to plan and coordinate the proposals of the meeting of council members, and supervise and manage the decisions reached by the meetings of council members. The working meetings will have a certain number of advisory council members, who are to be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer upon the approval of the Chairman.

IX.	The NCSD is authorized to set up working groups to promote and coordinate issues relevant to sustainable development in accordance with duties; all the working groups will have a convener, who is appointed by the Chief Executive Officer upon the approval of the Chairman; all the working groups are authorized to employ advisors, who are appointed upon the approval of the Chairman after the Chief Executive Officer reports to him.

X.	The NCSD is authorized to research and raise issues relevant to sustainable development in accordance with national and social needs. After determined by the council meeting, the issues are referred to relevant working groups, governmental agencies or academic members and experts, who will conduct research, implement the issues, and should report the status of work implementation to the NCSD. The funds needed are to be produced by the relevant agencies.

XI.	The decisions reached by the NCSD are to be carried out by the various relevant agencies. Major decisions are to be submitted to the EY for approval. Each of the relevant agencies should report the status of work implementation to the NCSD Secretariat, where the reports are to be collated for final submission to the EY.

XII.	The expenses of the NCSD are to be paid by a budget compiled by the EPA and relevant agencies.

XIII.	Council members of the NCSD are not paid, except non-governmental organization council members and other invited participants, who are to be paid an attendance fee in accordance with regulations.