Turning Digital Emissions into Actionable Metrics—Meet Mei-Lian Wei of Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER)
Advancing green AI and digital decarbonization across Taiwan.
Mei-Lian Wei (Emma) is an Assistant Research Fellow in the First Research Division at TIER, a department focused on digital transformation, renewable energy, sustainability, and green transportation. Her passion for sustainability dates back to her university years, and at TIER she has had valuable opportunities to explore various dimensions of this field—including green software.
Can you tell us about TIER?
Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) is Taiwan’s premier independent economic and industrial think tank, founded in 1976. We deliver vital industrial research and strategic insights to government, enterprise, and academia to foster robust economic growth. TIER also serves as secretariat for the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC). Our diverse research portfolio encompasses the digital economy, sustainability, finance, and ICT manufacturing, among other key sectors.
How does environmental sustainability fit into TIER’s research agenda?
In Taiwan, the government and private sector are actively pursuing a balanced path where economic growth and environmental sustainability advance hand in hand. As a trusted strategic advisor to both policymakers and industry leaders, TIER naturally integrates global and domestic sustainability frameworks into our core research. Environmental sustainability is not an isolated topic for us, but a foundational lens through which we shape future industrial policies and digital transformation. Our First Research Division, for instance, has led projects in offshore wind deployment, smart transportation systems, and EV infrastructure.
What does green software mean to your organisation?
Green software is a highly innovative concept for both TIER and Taiwan’s tech sector. Currently, the environmental impact of digital services is often abstract and difficult to quantify or visualize. For our organization, green software is the key to translating these invisible digital emissions into actionable metrics, enabling us to pioneer green digital transformation in Taiwan.
What motivated TIER to join the GSF?
Green Software Foundation is the global leader in green software standards and advocacy. As a vital bridge connecting global trends with Taiwan’s government and private sectors, TIER believes that joining GSF is a key step to bring frontline green software practices into Taiwan. This membership empowers us to equip the Taiwanese software ecosystem with forward-looking knowledge, guiding our domestic digital industries to grow with a shared consensus on sustainability.
How are you hoping to contribute and benefit from your membership?
As the execution partner promoting green software initiatives for Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) since 2024, TIER is willing to contribute our firsthand methodologies to GSF working groups—specifically our experience in developing software and website carbon calculation tools and our 2026 pilots helping Taiwanese enterprises implement the Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) standard.
On the other hand, we hope to leverage our membership to master global Green AI and Green digital service trends, integrating these insights back into Taiwan’s digital ecosystem to accelerate industry-wide decarbonization.