LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION encouraging participation of the Republic of
China (Taiwan) as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO)

WHEREAS, The State of New York and Taiwan have a long history of friend-
ship, including a fruitful sister-state relationship; and
WHEREAS, New York City is home to a thriving Taiwanese community, one
of the largest Taiwanese populations of any United States city; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Taiwanese-American community maintain
close ties with family and friends in their native land and are
concerned about their safety, well-being and development; and
WHEREAS, In its September 7, 2008, Statement on Taiwan's Meaningful
Participation in UN Specialized Agencies, the United States Mission to
the United Nations stated its support for Taiwan's participation in UN
specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), in
international organizations where statehood is not a prerequisite
including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and its observer status in the World
Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme governing body of the WHO and the
involvement of experts from Taiwan in appropriate technical-level meet-
ings; and
WHEREAS, Without opportunities for participation in the WHO, Taiwan's
23 million inhabitants have only restricted access to health alerts and
public health programs to which they have much to contribute and from
which they could and should benefit; and
WHEREAS, In April of 2009, Taiwan's Health Minister was invited by the
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead a deleg-
ation to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer,
setting a precedent for Taiwan's participation in UN specialized agen-
cies; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has been barred from participation in the UN affil-
iated agencies such as the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Aviation Organization
(ICAO); and
WHEREAS, Climate change has become a major global issue confronting
humanity in the 21st Century; and
WHEREAS, Global warming seriously affects the sustainable development
and welfare of Taiwan's 23 million people; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan was devastated by Typhoon Morakot in August of 2009,
causing severe loss of life and property; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) preamble acknowledges that the global nature of climate change
calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their
participation in an effective and appropriate response; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan cannot use UNFCCC resources such as the international
disaster early warning system; and
WHEREAS, According to the 2009, Key World Energy Statistics released
by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Taiwan ranks as the 22nd larg-
est emitter of carbon dioxide and the 18th largest emitter of carbon
monoxide per capita; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is the world's 26th largest economy and 18th largest
trading country; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has the means and incentive to assume its due respon-
sibilities in the fight against global warming; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the UNFCCC as an observer will enable
that nation to make valuable contributions to the international communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has been barred from participation in the UN affil-
iated International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has no access to timely information released by ICAO
on topics such as air flight route planning, air traffic flow manage-
ment, beacon codes, and airspace control; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is a key air transport hub that links Northeast and
Southeast Asia with approximately 2,600 weekly flights to and from
neighboring countries; and
WHEREAS, The Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR) under
Taiwan's jurisdiction covers 176,000 square nautical miles, services 12
international and four domestic routes, and has 1.35 million controlled
flights pass through every year; and
WHEREAS, Some 174,000 international flights carrying over 35 million
passengers arrived in and departed from Taiwan in 2008; and
WHEREAS, According to 2008 statistics released by Airports Council
International ranked Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport as the
world's 11th largest airport by international cargo volume, and 19th in
terms of international passenger services; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of New Yorkers fly to Taiwan and are entitled to
protection afforded by other nations; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the ICAO as an observer will ensure the
aviation safety of passengers from both Taiwan and abroad; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
encourage the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an
observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Control
and in the International Civil Aviation Organization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the United States Department of State, and to each member of
the New York State Congressional delegation.