TAS Climate Change Club Restores Ecosystems in Hsinchu County

By Audrey H. (‘23), TAS Communications Intern 

With over 80 upper school student clubs, our students engage in student-run activities with opportunities in areas ranging from entrepreneurship to service. Earlier in the spring, 25 upper school students from the Taipei American School (TAS) Climate Change Club engaged in a tree-planting event in Hsinchu County. 

The TAS Climate Change Club is dedicated to actively improving the environment through climate action and spreading climate awareness.

On the Saturday before spring break, the TAS Climate Change Club planted 250 trees in deforested areas of Hsinchu County to restore damaged ecosystems. They accomplished this by stabilizing the soil and supporting the water cycle of the region. 

Trees play a fundamental part in carbon dioxide removal. “[One tree] can absorb up to 21 kg [of carbon dioxide] a year,” Co-President of TAS Climate Change Club Dylan L. (‘23) said. 

The TAS Climate Change Club furthered its goal on a recent outing when it planted over 1,000 plant saplings. This was all done in upholding the club’s overarching service philosophy: improving the environment, and in this case, preserving biodiversity. The plant saplings attract butterflies, and hence, increase biodiversity in the Jianshi region in Hsinchu. 

“Biodiversity is crucial to increase ecosystem resilience against climate change,” Dylan said. “Many scientists believe that biodiversity loss is as big a problem as climate change, perhaps even more important.” 

Besides tree-planting events, the TAS Climate Change Club also prepares students to compete in the Climate Science Olympiad through climate science lessons, works with the administration on reducing emissions at TAS, and plans to work with lower school students Green Club to develop learning activities.