2026-03-26

Commissioned by the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) of Taiwan, the Center for Carbon Research and Solutions (CCRS) of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) traveled to Eswatini to conduct a "Carbon Market Training" program. The event brought together representatives from government ministries, enterprises, and the financial sector to enhance national capacity in carbon market knowledge and deepen understanding of market mechanisms, thereby supporting Eswatini's transition toward a sustainable economic development model. The mission was jointly facilitated by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Kingdom of Eswatini in collaboration with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE), and the Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESE), highlighting Taiwan's active professional engagement in global net-zero sustainability initiatives and demonstrating NSYSU's ongoing commitment to carbon market research and international cooperation.

The three-day training program was led by senior managers Qihuan Tan and Ying-Hsuan Chen from the NSYSU CCRS, who served as professional advisors and instructors. The curriculum comprised six major thematic modules, covering trends in the international voluntary carbon market, carbon project certification procedures, and methodologies for renewable energy, afforestation/reforestation, and clean cookstove projects. The program further extended to discussions on global climate governance and carbon pricing systems. Comprehensive in scope and tailored to local practical needs, the training attracted a total of 110 participants, including representatives from the CBE, the FSRA, the ESE, major financial institutions, local enterprises, and government agencies. The strong turnout reflected Eswatini's keen interest in carbon market mechanisms.

Participants generally described the training as providing a "systematic, practical, and insightful" introduction to carbon markets. They noted that the instructors' detailed explanations of key concepts, including additionality in carbon credit certification, the application of carbon methodologies, and carbon pricing mechanisms, significantly strengthened their foundational capacity. The daily online learning assessments conducted at the end of each session were also positively received as an effective means of consolidating knowledge and deepening understanding.

The mission also fostered dialogue among participants on key carbon market issues. Through interactive sessions and cross-sector discussions, the NSYSU team assisted participants in understanding both the opportunities and challenges associated with engaging in international carbon markets. Topics included potential cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and institutional readiness for establishing carbon market systems. These exchanges are expected to support participating institutions in further exploring pathways for low-carbon development strategies and project design.

The NSYSU CCRS stated that this mission represented not only a professional training initiative but also an expansion of international linkages in net-zero sustainability governance. By sharing global trends and expertise in carbon markets with a diplomatic ally, NSYSU demonstrated its strength as a national talent hub for net-zero transition and reaffirmed its mission to advance net-zero sustainability governance in the international arena. Looking ahead, the NSYSU CCRS will continue to collaborate with stakeholders across industry, government, and academia to deepen exchanges and partnerships in climate governance, carbon market research, and capacity building, while enhancing the international visibility of both Taiwan and NSYSU in the field of net-zero sustainability.