A carbon tax, an energy tax and a ceiling on carbon dioxide emissions are all indispensable measures to reduce greenhouse emissions, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Stephen Shen (沈世宏) said yesterday
“I hope the Executive Yuan will propose an energy tax bill as soon as possible so that the legislature can push through the bill and a greenhouse gas reduction draft by the next legislative session,” Shen told reporters at a press conference.
When the legislative session came to a close on Tuesday, the greenhouse gas reduction draft act had still not cleared the floor, despite promises from President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
“Environmental protection groups and the Democratic Progressive Party had hoped to be able to include a greenhouse gas reduction target in the bill, which [the Executive Yuan] did not agree to. The DPP said it would rather wait and review the bill after the climate change talks scheduled for December in Copenhagen,” Shen said.
Some opponents of the greenhouse gas draft legislation considered it to have a lower priority than enacting an energy tax bill, Shen said, adding that the EPA disagreed with that view.
“Experiences in many European countries have shown that a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and the introduction of carbon and energy taxes complement each other. They serve different purposes and are targeted at different groups,” Shen said.
A carbon trading system, to be established once the greenhouse gas reduction draft act is passed, would be effective in forcing big polluters to reduce emissions, while the introduction of an energy tax would be aimed at encouraging individuals to save energy, he said.
The carbon tax was mainly designed to encourage businesses to reduce emissions, Shen said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
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At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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