Premier Mao Chi-kuo today reiterated that as a responsible stakeholder in the global village, Taiwan is determined to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
"Taiwan has followed the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as its domestic Basic Environment Act and Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (referred to hereafter as the Greenhouse Gas Act) in proposing its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to cutting GHG emissions. It has demonstrated its ambition to actively and steadily reduce its carbon emissions and use of nuclear energy," stressed the premier after the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) reported on Taiwan's INDC at the Cabinet's weekly meeting.
Taiwan's INDC goal is for the country's 2030 GHG emissions to be 50 percent lower than they would be if it conducted business as usual and 20 percent lower than its 2005 total. This should pave the way for meeting the ultimate target stipulated by the Greenhouse Gas Act: reducing annual GHG emissions to less than half of 2005 levels by 2050.
In light of the global trend of GHG reduction, Taiwan should also think ahead about potential trade barriers and prevent its industries from suffering trade sanctions due to carbon issues, Mao said.
The premier hopes the central and local governments as well as the public and private sectors can work together to build open communication platforms and close partnerships, strengthening the country's ability to adapt to climate change and facilitating the paradigm shift of a nationwide move to conserve energy and cut GHGs.
The premier directed the EPA to follow the Greenhouse Gas Act and set regulatory goals for consecutive five-year periods, lead the country to reduce carbon emissions, promote measures to meet the GHG reduction targets, and build a sustainable low-carbon living environment.
Given Taiwan's technological advantages in energy resources integration, geothermal energy, and carbon capture and storage, as well as its carbon offsets through international market mechanisms, it can greatly increase its GHG reduction levels, the EPA said. This could further shave 6 million metric tons off the estimated lower threshold of 220 million metric tons of GHG emissions in 2030.