President Tsai Ing-wen in April 2021 announced that Taiwan is committed to achieving a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, matching similar resolutions by countries across the world in response to the ongoing global warming crisis. The government in March 2022 published a plan for Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050, followed in December by an action plan for 12 key strategies for net-zero transition, and this January approved a 2023-2026 plan outlining various carbon reduction methods and adjustments to bring the nation closer to net zero. Various amendments to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act also took force in February 2023—changing the act's name to the Climate Change Response Act, formalizing the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, enhancing the roles and responsibilities of climate governance, levying carbon fees that will be reinvested into low-carbon initiatives and technologies, adding a new chapter to the act that bolsters frameworks for climate-related reporting and mitigation efforts, and codifying an administrative mechanism to review carbon footprints and carbon labeling of products. These changes demonstrate Taiwan's resolution to advance toward its target of net-zero emissions.
Four main objectives
■ Transition to more secure energy: Expand the establishment of renewable energy sources and increase the percentage of energy that is domestically produced, thus reducing the impact of international energy market shocks and price fluctuations on Taiwan's energy security.
■ Transition to more competitive industry: Continue promoting the rollout of green energy and spurring the growth of green energy industry chains and domestic supply chains. Encourage industries to meet the demands of supply chains and global green initiatives, and utilize the strengths of Taiwan's information and communications technology industry to implement more efficient, lower-carbon and smarter manufacturing processes. Deploy advanced technologies, develop competitive domestic technologies and facilitate rapid commercialization of those technologies to capitalize on business opportunities arising from the international transition to net zero.
■ Transition to more sustainable lifestyles: Raise awareness and understanding around climate change and the net-zero transition, and encourage changes in the public's behavior relating to food, fashion, housing, transportation, etc. to bring about low-carbon lifestyles. Motivate manufacturers to adopt low-carbon business models and develop industry supply chains that support green living.
■ Transition to a more resilient society: Establish social support systems that strengthen administrative mechanisms for civic participation and just transition, where climate policy changes involve consultation with local communities and uphold their rights.