[Graduate Institute of Development Studies]

To continue its Deep Plowing Higher Education Program despite border restrictions due to the pandemic, NCCU's Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS) launched the 2021 “Developments in the Global South” lecture series, following its 2020 “Development Studies Lecture Series.” The new series centers on development studies with a focus on the societies, ethnic groups, and related issues in the Global South.

The first lecture of the series was held on November 1, featuring Mr. Raoul Kubitschek, General Manager of NIRAS (Taiwan), who spoke on “Environmental Impact Assessment towards the Global South—Brief Overview of European Approaches for Stakeholder Engagement.” He provided insights into the common challenges and issues faced by European chambers and companies investing in renewable energy in the Global South, particularly with regard to environmental impact assessments (EIAs).

Raoul first introduced NIRAS, a Danish-based international consultancy specializing in environmental impact assessments. European companies entering the Taiwanese market often rely on NIRAS to navigate Taiwan’s EIA regulations and procedures. The company also assists in facilitating direct dialogue between European investors and the Taiwanese government. One of NIRAS’s major projects involves EIAs for offshore wind power development. Raoul noted that due to historical, political, and cross-strait factors, there is limited data on fish, birds, and other wildlife in Taiwan's offshore areas, which creates challenges and gaps in the environmental assessments. To address this, the company has collaborated with universities on research projects to build ecological databases and academic discussions surrounding marine ecosystems.

Raoul also highlighted cultural differences in the development process. In Europe, EIAs are typically conducted before a project is finalized and serve as a mechanism for building stakeholder networks, which results in longer assessment periods. In Taiwan, however, EIAs are often conducted after project decisions have been made and are usually shorter in duration, which can lead to public skepticism or opposition. While this difference poses a challenge for NIRAS, Raoul emphasized that it is a distinctive feature of Taiwan’s development culture—one that is shared by many countries in the Global South.

During the post-lecture Q&A, Raoul mentioned that NIRAS's recent EIA efforts have expanded beyond Taiwan’s offshore wind sector. The firm is now involved in renewable energy development projects in Southeast Asia, funded by international aid from the EU, the U.S., and Japan. He expressed interest in deeper academic collaboration with GIDS, including case sharing and joint research to better explore and understand development dynamics across the Global South.

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Original Article (Chinese)