Stuck in the legislature, Taiwan's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction policy shows no sign of moving forward. The nation continues to lag behind the global trend to cut GHG emissions because of an inflexible political mindset that prioritizes development above all else.
Some politicians, in a twisted sense of nationalism, think that since Taiwan is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, it should not join the global effort as any GHG reduction would be credited to China, thus denigrating Taiwan's status as a sovereign nation.
Meanwhile, politicians who have been encouraging Taiwanese businesses to "Go West" believe that since the petrochemical and steel industries are responsible for much of the nation's GHG emissions and environmentalists have blocked these high-energy consuming and major polluting businesses from opening new plants in the country, the government should allow these businesses to invest in China. This argument is hardly convincing, as GHG emissions will not be cut simply by relocating plants to China.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has yet to come up with an effective policy to reduce GHG emissions. At most, it only negotiates voluntary GHG emission reduction with individual companies. A few days ago, Minister of Economic Affairs Minister Steve Chen (
The Cabinet also recently proposed a development plan called "Big Investment, Big Warmth," calling on businesses to increase investment to lift the economy. Given the economics ministry's hostility to the draft greenhouse gas reduction bill, which passed its first legislative reading on May 7, it's no wonder that Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance chairman Chi Schive (
Global warming poses an even more formidable challenge to countries around the world than the two world wars. First, global warming will cause large-scale destruction. Second, only through international cooperation can the world reduce emissions. An environmental survey conducted last month in the US by the Gallup Organization showed that a majority of Americans support stricter environmental bills that would restrict GHG emissions and direct more tax money toward the development of alternative energy sources. Last February, EU environmental ministers agreed that GHG emissions by 2020 should be reduced by at least 20 percent from 1990 levels.
The Japanese government has committed to reduce its GHG emissions to 6 percent below its 1990 level by 2012 -- a full percentage point more than the average required by the Kyoto Protocol. Contrast that with Taiwan where the two major political parties are constantly engaged in bickering over the issue of "national survival." There's no accounting as to how much damage this incessant squabbling is costing the nation.
There is only one earth, one world. If every nation were to adopt a passive attitude in tackling global warming, the world would be doomed. In Taiwan's search for international recognition, it cannot afford to isolate itself from the world.
Lai Shin-yuan is a Taiwan Solidarity Union legislator. George Nee is a doctoral student in the political science department at National Chengchi University.
Translated by Lin Ya-ti
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