WHEREAS,  Taiwan and the United States enjoy an important and strategic relationship; and

WHEREAS,  aviation safety and global climate change are vital issues of international interest and concern; and

WHEREAS,  the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 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 international response”; and

WHEREAS,  Taiwan’s highly industrialized development has brought about a large amount of carbon dioxide emission, and its participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and related agencies and activities will benefit the international effort to combat climate change; and

WHEREAS,  Taiwan is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Taipei Flight Information Region under Taiwan’s jurisdiction covers an area of 176,000 square nautical miles and has 1,350,000 controlled flights passing through each year; and

WHEREAS,  in 2008, Airports Council International statistics ranked Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan as the world’s 11th largest airport by international cargo volume and 19th in international passenger services, and Taiwan plays a prominent role in regional air control and transport services and in consideration of flight and passenger safety; and

WHEREAS,  Taiwan’s participation is indispensable if the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are to ensure the integrity of the global civil aviation safety network and protection of the global environment; and

WHEREAS,  the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change practices allow for Taiwan to meaningfully participate in those organizations' meetings, mechanisms and activities; now, therefore, be it