{{Short description|Taiwanese biologist, ecologist and politician (1938–2025)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lin Chun-yi | native_name = {{nobold|林俊義}} | native_name_lang = zh-tw | caption = | constituency = | order = Director of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs | term_start = 17 August 2007 | term_end = 20 May 2008 | predecessor = {{interlanguage link|Lin Fang-mei|zh|林芳玫}} | successor = Chu Wen-hsiang (acting)<br/>Shao Yu-ming | order1 = ROC Representative to the United Kingdom | term_start1 = December 2004 | term_end1 = August 2007 | predecessor1 = Tien Hung-mao | successor1 = Katharine Chang | constituency1 = | order2 = ROC Ambassador to Gambia | term_start2 = August 2001 | term_end2 = December 2004 | predecessor2 = Lee Cheng-hsiung<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Chieh-yu |title=Gambians all smiles for Chen |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/08/21/0000048669 |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=Taipei Times |date=21 August 2000}}</ref> | successor2 = Patrick Chang<ref>{{cite news|title=New Taiwanese ambassador presents credintials|url=http://qanet.gm/statehouse/newtai-ambass-jan27.htm|access-date=13 December 2016|agency=Office of the President of The Gambia|date=27 January 2005 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220114927/http://qanet.gm/statehouse/newtai-ambass-jan27.htm}}</ref> | constituency2 = | order3 = Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration | term_start3 = 20 May 2000 | term_end3 = 6 March 2001 | predecessor3 = Tsai Hsun-hsiung | successor3 = Hau Lung-pin | constituency3 = | order4 = Head of the {{ill|Taipei Department of Environmental Protection|zh|臺北市政府環境保護局}} | term_start4 = 17 October 1995 | term_end4 = 9 August 1997 | predecessor4 = Chen Chin-yang | successor4 = Liu Shyh-fang | constituency4 = | order5 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start5 = 1 February 1992 | term_end5 = 31 January 1996 | predecessor5 = | successor5 = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1938|7|23}} | birth_place = Taihoku, Taihoku Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2025|11|13|1938|7|23}} | death_place = | party = Democratic Progressive Party | alma_mater = | education = National Taiwan University (BA)<br />National Taiwan Normal University (MA)<br />Indiana University (MS, PhD) }}
'''Lin Chun-yi''' ({{lang-zh|t=林俊義}}; 23 July 1938 – 13 November 2025), also known by his English name '''Edgar Lin''', was a Taiwanese biologist, ecologist, diplomat, and politician.
== Early life and education == Lin was born in Taipei in 1938.<ref>{{cite news |title=從「永不再見」到一生奉獻！環保運動先驅林俊義辭世 享壽87歲 |url=https://news.pchome.com.tw/living/imedia/20251114/index-76310618051794287009.html |access-date=14 November 2025 |publisher=PC Home |date=16 November 2025 |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=政黨輪替後首任環保署長辭世！林俊義享壽87歲 一生橫跨政學外交界 |url=https://www.storm.mg/article/11081012 |access-date=16 November 2025 |publisher=Storm Media |date=14 November 2025 |language=zh}}</ref> He graduated from National Taiwan University with a bachelor's degree in foreign languages and literature and obtained a master's degree in English from National Taiwan Normal University. Lin then completed doctoral studies in the United States, earning a Master of Science (M.S.) and his Ph.D. in ecology and zoology from Indiana University in 1975. His doctoral dissertation was titled, "Comparative reproductive biology of two sympatric tropical lizards: Chamaeleo hohneli and Chamaeleo jacksoni".<ref>[https://www.proquest.com/openview/c42486e3fe719300948f73c208b599a8/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y Dissertation] per Proquest</ref>
== Academic career == After receiving his doctorate, he remained in the United States for a time, working as a research fellow for the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology.<ref name="appt">{{cite news|last1=Jou|first1=Ying-Cheng|title=Tang Fei returns to the political fray|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/04/30/0000034178|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=30 April 2000}}</ref>
After his return to Taiwan, Lin taught at Tunghai University.<ref name="appt"/><ref name="ukarrival">{{cite news|title=New envoy arrives in UK|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/09/2003218628|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=9 January 2005}}</ref> Lin began participating in Taiwan's environmental movement in the 1980s. He became known as a "godfather" of the cause and was a noted anti-nuclear activist, later serving Greenpeace Taiwan as its president.<ref name="Hawaii">{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=Yu-Tzu|title=EPA meets with US counterpart in Hawaii|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/10/23/58337|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=23 October 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=Yu-tzu|title=Greens uneasy over Lin joining the official fold|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/05/01/0000034310|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=1 May 2000}}</ref>
== Political career == Lin ran in the 1989 legislative election for a Legislative Yuan seat in Taichung, as one of the "Five Tigers" electoral coalition, alongside fellow legislative candidate Liu Wen-hsiung, mayoral candidate Hsu Jung-shu, and provincial councilor candidates Chang Wen-ying and {{ill|Ho Chun-mu|zh|何春木}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=陳 |first1=湘芸 |title=前環保署長林俊義辭世 陳彥斌追憶昔台中「五虎將」選戰辛酸 |url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2025-11-15/1004707 |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=Newtalk |date=15 November 2025 |language=zh}}</ref> His unsuccessful campaign was backed by the Democratic Progressive Party.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Legislative Yuan still not fully representative |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |date=September 1989 |volume=41 |page=10 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc41-int.pdf |issn=1027-3999}}</ref> He was elected to the National Assembly in 1992. The National Assembly voted to block a set of reform proposals after its convocation. Alongside fellow Democratic Progressive Party members Huang Hsin-chieh and Chen Yung-hsing, Lin walked out of the assembly on 4 May 1992, criticizing the body for procedural violations.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The DPP and Independents walk out |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |date=June 1992 |volume=55 |page=9 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc55-int.pdf |issn=1027-3999}}</ref> In September 1993, Lin accepted the DPP nomination as its candidate for the Taichung mayoralty.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Candidates |journal=Taiwan Communiqué |date=September 1993 |volume=59 |page=14 |url=https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/tc59-int.pdf |issn=1027-3999}}</ref> Lin lost to {{ill|Lin Po-jung|zh|林柏榕}}, who secured a second consecutive term.
Lin led Taipei's {{ill|Taipei Department of Environmental Protection|lt=Bureau of Environmental Protection|zh|臺北市政府環境保護局}} while Chen Shui-bian was mayor.<ref name="appt"/> Chen was elected president in 2000, and Lin was appointed minister of the Environmental Protection Administration by Premier Tang Fei in April, taking office with the rest of the cabinet on 20 May.<ref name="appt"/> Shortly after joining the EPA, Lin renounced his opposition to nuclear energy, stating that he had held that stance largely to combat totalitarianism.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chiu|first1=Yu-Tzu|title='Father of anti-nuclear activists' singing a new tune|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/05/26/37516|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=26 May 2000}}</ref> In October, Lin made his first trip to the United States in an official capacity and became the first EPA executive to include environmentalists as part of his contingent abroad.<ref name="Hawaii"/> The Amorgos oil spill occurred in January 2001, and the Executive Yuan was criticized for its delayed response.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shan|first1=Shelley|title=EPA wants ship's wreckage removed by April next year|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/12/13/2003340232|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=13 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=Premier rejects minister's offer to resign over spill|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/03/01/0000075678|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=1 March 2001}}</ref> Subsequently, Lin resigned his position in March.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Four new Cabinet officials appointed|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/03/06/0000076348|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=6 March 2001}}</ref>
In August of that year, Lin was named ambassador to The Gambia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lin Chun-yi appointed new ambassador to the Gambia|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/08/04/0000097061|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=4 August 2001}}</ref> He served until December 2004, when he was sworn in as Taiwan's representative to the United Kingdom.<ref name="colorful">{{cite news|last1=Chen|first1=Melody|title=Edgar Lin 'pursuing a colorful life'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/12/20/2003215939|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=20 December 2004}}</ref> His first trip in the United Kingdom took place the next month.<ref name="ukarrival"/> While in the United Kingdom, Lin spoke out against the One China principle, Anti-Secession Law, and one country, two systems.<ref>{{cite news|title=Taiwan's envoy to the UK blames 'one China' idea|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/03/11/2003245752|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=11 March 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Taiwan diplomat shuns unification with China|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/03/18/2003352801|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=18 March 2007}}</ref> Instead, Lin proposed that the European Union pass its own version of the United States' Taiwan Relations Act.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Jewel|title=Europe should make its own TRA, says top official to Britain|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/06/01/2003363335|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=1 June 2007}}</ref>
== Later life and death == Lin and his American wife, who preceded him in death, had three children.<ref name="biztoday"/> In retirement, Lin lived alone in Tamsui,<ref name="biztoday">{{cite news |title=「反核教父」、政黨輪替後首任環保署長林俊義辭世享壽87歲…管碧玲哀悼：反獨裁的街頭聖戰士 |url=https://www.businesstoday.com.tw/article/category/183027/post/202511150005/ |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=Business Today |date=15 November 2025 |language=zh}}</ref> and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.<ref>{{cite news |title=健康網》林俊義生前得阿茲海默症 醫：雖有新藥須考量副作用 |url=https://health.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/5246997 |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=Liberty Times |date=15 November 2025}}</ref> He died on 13 November 2025, at the age of 87.<ref>{{cite news |title=前環保署長林俊義辭世 向陽憶白色恐怖往事「與林教授因文字肇禍」 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/5245602 |access-date=14 November 2025 |work=Liberty Times |date=14 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=李 |first1=柏澔 |title=前環保署長林俊義辭世 彭啓明：不捨與哀痛 |url=https://udn.com/news/story/6656/9142611 |access-date=16 November 2025 |work=United Daily News |date=16 November 2025 |language=zh}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lin, Edgar}} Category:1938 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Taiwanese environmentalists Category:Taiwanese anti–nuclear power activists Category:Representatives of Taiwan to the United Kingdom Category:Democratic Progressive Party (Taiwan) politicians Category:Writers from Taipei Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Taipei Category:National Taiwan University alumni Category:Indiana University alumni Category:Academic staff of Tunghai University Category:Taiwanese biologists Category:People associated with Greenpeace Category:Ambassadors of the Republic of China to the Gambia Category:Ministers of environment of Taiwan