Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) yesterday said the ministry aims to increase the public transport usage rate from about 14 percent to 30 percent, with a goal of a 5 percent increase annually.
Mao made the statement at a transportation service seminar held by the ministry, where he delivered a speech titled “Vision of a Low Carbon Emission, Sustainable Transport Development.”
Meanwhile, the ministry has proposed that local governments consider raising their parking fees and charging a congestion fee to boost demand for public transport.
The Executive Yuan’s Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction Committee has ordered the transportation department to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 34.5 million tonnes by 2020 and 29.7 million tonnes by 2025, but the best the department could do is halve the carbon dioxide emissions now being produced, Mao said.
A majority of the work needs to be done by the nation’s energy regulator, which must ensure a more efficient use of the energy, Mao said.
Oil prices rose 385 percent between 1995 and last year, but the consumer price index only rose 83 percent during the same period, he said, asking whether fuel purchases should still be subsidized, given the rising cost of crude oil.
“The question we have to ask ourselves is whether we are ready to take care of those who switch from private vehicles to public transport if the government no longer provides subsidies for gas purchases,” Mao said. “When that happens, a public transport environment must be in place, otherwise people will only switch from cars to motorcycles.”
To decrease reliance on small passenger vehicles, the ministry said it would promote increased use of carbon-free options, such as walking and bicycling.
Commuters should also be encouraged to carpool and use public transport at least once per week or per month, and to try to work from home using Web-based videoconferencing.
Mao said transportation had become the second-largest energy-consuming sector after industry, with as much as 13.9 percent of energy resources going into transportation last year, emitting about 35.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Statistics from last year showed that the carbon dioxide generated by highway transportation accounted for 94 percent of all transportation emissions.
Sixty-four percent of carbon dioxide emissions on highways came from small passenger vehicles.
Mao said a survey conducted last year found that the public transport usage rate was 13.9 percent. When those who walk or ride bicycles were added, the percentage was 26.7 percent.
New Taipei City (新北市), Keelung and Taoyuan County also have double-digit public transport usage rates, but the usage rate for other cities and counties varied between 3 percent and 8 percent.
The divide was also obvious when comparing public transport utilization in the nation’s five major municipalities.
Taipei and New Taipei City had public transport usage rates of 37.6 and 25.9 percent respectively, but those of Greater Taichung, Greater Tainan and Greater Kaohsiung were 6.8, 4.8 and 6 percent respectively.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
RSS