[Kaohsiung News] The Kaohsiung City Government held its municipal administrative meeting on the 3rd at the Net Zero Institute. Presiding over the meeting, Mayor Chen Chi-mai emphasized the importance of budget planning, the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, and the approaching plum rain front. He noted that preparations for the 2026 general budget are currently underway and urged all departments and agencies to focus on reviewing key policy initiatives and ensure that core projects are properly included in the budget planning process. In addition, with a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Chen urged elderly citizens and those with weakened immune systems to take extra precautions. He also reminded the public to wear masks when visiting medical facilities to protect their health.
During the meeting, the Youth Bureau presented a special report on the implementation of the “Major Youth Initiative.” Mayor Chen emphasized that youth are the future of the city, and reaffirmed the City Government’s commitment to fostering a youth-friendly environment by advancing policies across various sectors. The initiative integrates 49 policies from 15 departments and adopts creative promotional strategies to effectively reach diverse youth groups, showcasing innovation and vitality in public communication. With the recent passage of the draft Youth Basic Act by the Executive Yuan, Mayor Chen also called on relevant agencies to proactively develop responsive policies on key issues concerning young people, listening to their voices and continuously improving support measures.
Since the end of November 2024, the Kaohsiung City Government has been fully implementing the “Major Youth Initiative,” using marketing strategies that blend creativity with everyday life scenarios to communicate policy concepts. By incorporating data analysis, the initiative also identifies topics of concern among young people. As of May this year, the campaign had reached over one million individuals. Highlights include the popular “Little Tiger Oracle” online fortune draw, limited-edition souvenirs, collaborations with Huada Milk Tea, and instant photo booths—all designed to resonate with youth. These efforts reflect a youth-centric approach to policy planning, reinforcing Kaohsiung’s transformation into a more youth-friendly city.
The Major Youth Initiative uses the language and perspective of the younger generation to interpret diverse urban issues, combining both online and offline marketing to engage in-depth with the youth community. The initiative integrates 49 youth-oriented policies across 15 departments of the Kaohsiung City Government, centering on seven key aspects of life: education, transportation, employment, quality of life, starting a family, childrearing, and elder care. By addressing a comprehensive range of issues across different life stages and incorporating engaging, lifestyle-oriented promotional strategies, the program effectively connects Kaohsiung’s youth policies with its intended audience.
Following the meeting, Mayor Chen also attended the signing ceremony for a public sector sustainability initiative. The Kaohsiung City Government signed a cooperation agreement with the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE) to jointly promote net-zero transition efforts. Mayor Chen emphasized that Kaohsiung, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), is the only municipality among the six special municipalities to submit an annual Voluntary Local Review. The city has taken a range of climate actions to advance net-zero policies, including launching the first carbon budget among Taiwan's six special municipalities. The goal is to reduce emissions to 50.93 million tCO2e within two years, supported by clearly defined action plans to achieve measurable progress toward carbon neutrality.
Image 1–2: The municipal administrative meeting was held at the Net Zero Institute, where Mayor Chen Chi-mai addressed key policy areas including budget planning, the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, and the impact of the plum rain front. During the meeting, the Youth Bureau also delivered a special report on the implementation of the “Major Youth Initiative,” which promotes youth-friendly policies based on the needs and perspectives of the younger generation, aiming to make Kaohsiung a more youth-inclusive city.
Image 3–5: After the meeting, Mayor Chen Chi-mai attended the signing ceremony for the Public Sector Sustainability Initiative, where he and Dr. Eugene Chien, President and Chair of the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, signed a cooperation agreement. The partnership aims to promote the net-zero transition through joint efforts and concrete action.