A strategic development plan for the nation’s science park projects was criticized for failing to reduce emissions amid increasing pollution, with environmentalists calling on the Ministry of Science and Technology to refrain from building new science parks.
Following controversies over the development of the Erlin Science Park in Changhua County, the ministry in 2012 promised to propose a strategic science park development plan to be reviewed by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), and the plan, if approved, would be the guiding principle for science park development policy.
Yesterday’s meeting was the first review of the plan, which was criticized as evasive on pollution issues and low science park occupancy rates.
The ministry proposed that new science parks or expansion projects not be allowed in areas where the environment could not accommodate more development, and that a “pollution cap” system be established to manage science park emissions and sewage — the only environmental policies stated in the plan.
However, regarding areas where pollution is already serious, the ministry proposed an alternative development plan, which would permit new park projects or expansion projects in those areas, provided that additional pollution not exceed the emission limits at existing science parks.
The alternative plan serves as a response to the EPA’s designation of all cities and counties except Taitung as class-three air pollution control zones — the most severe level of pollution according to the agency’s three-class system — earlier this month due to increased particulate matter pollution.
EPA Strategic Environmental Assessment Committee member Lee Kung-che (李公哲) criticized the ministry’s alternative development plan, saying it would not help reduce pollution, but would encourage development.
“The ministry should not only be content with managing emissions at allowed limits, but should attempt to reduce pollution with the latest technology, or the ministry does not deserve to head the nation’s science development,” Lee said.
Successful pollution reduction can create external benefits, a value that science parks should attempt to create, he said.
Other committee members said the plan lacked content and failed to outline the future development and management of science parks.
The plan did not address how the ministry planned to source “green” energy or utilize vacant properties, they said.
Taiwan Water Resources Protection Union Jennifer Nien (粘麗玉) said the ministry should not build more parks, as many parks remains little used, and that it should establish an exit mechanism to shut down under-performing parks.
EPA Deputy Minister Thomas Chan (詹順貴) said the plan was made with the traditional development mindset, and the ministry should redraft the plan to include the latest pollution-prevention technology and establish a mechanism to avoid building little used parks due to political considerations.
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