Earlier this month a Taiwanese legislative committee approved the draft of a greenhouse gas reduction bill. If passed by the Legislative Yuan this will require the government to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Taiwan to 2005 levels by 2025 to 2030.
This is a welcome first step by legislators and they are to be congratulated for reaching this agreement. But research by Academia Sinica has shown that between 1990 and 2005 carbon dioxide emissions grew faster in Taiwan than in any other comparable country worldwide. And the report by the UN's panel of global warming experts, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, also published at the beginning of the month showed that if the rise in world temperatures is to stabilize by 2030, then global emissions of carbon dioxide need to be up to 30 percent lower by then than they were in 2000.
So a huge amount remains to be done, in Taiwan as well as elsewhere, if these reductions are to be achieved. But the question I hear from so many Taiwanese is: what can we do about it? The short answer is lots, even without further legislation being passed by the legislature.
In the UK a growing number of towns are taking their own action to reduce carbon emissions without waiting to be told by central government.
"Transition towns" are trying to rely much more on local produce and local skills, to reduce energy consumption.
Similarly, in the US almost 500 mayors have signed up to a Climate Protection Agreement, which pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions. This need not be at the expense of jobs, as many Taiwanese fear, and some businesses claim.
In the UK employment levels have risen steadily, even while we have reduced carbon emissions.
To give an example from Taiwan, the China America Petrochemical Co (CAPCO -- which is 59 percent owned by BP) is a major energy user in its Kaohsiung and Taichung complexes. But it relies on LNG rather than coal for its energy needs.
LNG is cleaner, more efficient and produces significantly lower (but far from zero) emissions than does coal. If other energy-intensive Taiwanese companies followed CAPCO's example and used LNG the impact could be significant.
But in the UK industry is responsible for only around one-third of all carbon emissions. The remainder come in similar proportions from transport and from domestic behavior and it is in these areas where as individuals we can make a real difference. Much of what we can do is very simple and could even make us more comfortable.
For example, I have often noticed when going to the movie theaters or to restaurants in Taipei that patrons have to wear sweaters or even coats because the air-conditioning is so strong. If movie theater and restaurant owners adjusted their thermostats, not only would we be more comfortable, they would save money on their electricity bills.
The same is true at home. Taiwan's climate is humid but dehumidifiers use less electricity than air-conditioners and are just as effective in making the environment at home more comfortable on all but the hottest days of the year.
By regularly cleaning and replacing air filters in air conditioners, and servicing them regularly we can ensure they function efficiently. And by improving insulation, especially around the air conditioner, we can increase the impact of air-conditioning further.
In March EU governments agreed to phase out the sale of traditional light bulbs in the EU by 2009. From then, EU citizens will have to use low-energy light bulbs.
Across the EU the measure will reduce carbon emissions by 20 million tonnes each year. In the UK it will save energy equivalent to the output of a medium-sized power station. Low energy light bulbs are already widely available in Taiwan. If every Taiwanese household replaced its five most frequently used lights with low energy bulbs they would not only save money on electricity bills but also take Taiwan a long way towards the emission goals the legislature has agreed.
Taiwan's government is already taking steps to reduce emissions from transport, especially by promoting the development and use of biodiesel.
But Taiwan also has an impressive public transport system -- a clean and efficient MRT in Taipei, the magnificent new high speed railway between Taipei and Kaohsiung and new faster trains on the east coast line. Using these just once or twice each month instead of traveling by car could achieve a similar impact in reducing emissions to the plans for biodiesel. Using buses for shorter journeys would have a similar effect.
Tainan County and Taipei City have led the way in requiring drivers of public service vehicles to switch off their engines if stationery for more than three minutes.
Again, if we all followed suit, or even reduced the idling time to no more than two minutes, it would have a minimal impact on our comfort, but the savings in fuel emissions (and in our fuel costs) would be significant.
There are almost countless ways in every day life too where, simply by all of us changing our habits, we could achieve major reductions in energy use without any inconvenience to ourselves. Some examples:
Unplug your mobile phone charger. Even if your phone is fully charged these can consume up to 100KW of electricity a day.
Switch off TVs, VCRs and DVDs when not in use rather than leaving them on standby, where they can use up to 85 percent of the energy used when switched on.
Switch off photocopiers at the end of the day. A photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to produce over 1,500 copies.
Switch off computer monitors when not in use -- a computer monitor switched off overnight saves enough energy to microwave six meals.
Climate change will affect all of us. All of us therefore need to act to limit its impact. We can do so. But we need to start now.
Michael Reilly is director of the British Trade and Cultural Office.
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