In the interest of fairness, all classrooms in which students took the junior high school Basic Competence Test this year had to have their air conditioner turned off during the exams. Students had to sweat out the test while writing on the topic "the best thing about summer." Naturally, most of the answers concerned eating ice cream, swimming or enjoying the air conditioner. As parents and students discussed whether these responses would receive high marks, is it possible they also thought about global warming?
As humans have progressed from hand fans to electric fans to air conditioners, we have been rewarded for our effort with greater material comforts. But we can't put a giant cover over a city and turn on the air conditioner.
Unless we imprison ourselves indoors for our whole lives, there is no place where we can avoid the outdoor heat forever. But can we create a cooler summer climate for our children?
Over the past century, average temperatures in Taiwan have risen 1.3oC, or twice the world average. This is a result of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012, countries around the world are discussing what to do next. Germany is set to propose a plan to lower emissions to half of their 1990 levels by 2050, which Japan is expected to join.
Taiwan emitted 262 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2005, a 135 percent increase from the 112 million tonnes it emitted in 1990. If it wants to be in line with global efforts, it has to cut back at least 43 percent of this excess output, which is practically impossible. Therefore, the legislative committees have passed a preliminary draft law to reduce greenhouse gases, aiming to keep emissions at their 2005 levels by 2025.
But the government finds even such moderate goals unacceptable for fear that they will hinder big companies like Formosa Plastics Group and its steel mill project and CPC Corp, Taiwan's Kuokuang Petrochemical Technology Co venture, which will account for 10 percent of the nation's total carbon dioxide emissions. Was the result of the government's discussion of industrial transformation 20 years ago really that Taiwan should have the fastest growing carbon dioxide emissions in the world?
Cities originated from the convenience of economies of scale, but Taipei has long since crossed that boundary. It has continued to invest in construction leading to high urban density, but more needless construction will bring no more benefit to the city. Permitting a bit more breathing room to improve the quality of life is the only way to improve the city's competitiveness.
The Songshan Tobacco Factory, Losheng (Happy Life) Sanatorium, the old ammunition depot in Tucheng City and surrounding farms are all parts of Taiwan that the bulldozers have missed. This has accidentally preserved rare landmarks and great trees that are decades old and allows us to still hear the sound of Gunther's frogs in the middle of the bustling city or see fireflies.
Although these projects face different pressures -- including construction of a large sports stadium at the Songshan Tobacco Factory -- they are all large-scale development projects that will destroy historical landmarks. Should we destroy these places now for short-term benefit and then have to spend lots of money in the future to restore them, or should we preserve these treasures in their present state?
Some people think the most pleasant way to pass a summer evening is partying inside Taipei Stadium and then going out for a bowl of ice cream. I long for a stroll in one of Taiwan's naturally air-conditioned spaces, a forest park. If you were sitting down to take the test, what would your answer be?
Pan Han-shen is secretary-general of Green Party Taiwan.
Translated by Marc Langer
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