Taiwan by 2030 aims to reduce emissions by 23 to 25 percent from 2005 levels and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the National Development Council said yesterday.
To reach the 2030 goal, the agency revealed a slew of transition plans based on 12 key strategies, including power/photovoltaics, hydrogen energy, innovative energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and decarbonizing the transportation sector.
The government would spend nearly NT$900 billion (US$29.3 billion) by 2030 to realize the plans, the agency said.
Photo: CNA
National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said that transitioning to net zero is an unshirkable responsibility for Taiwan, and doing so could generate enormous business opportunities.
By 2030, the push toward net zero would spur about NT$4 trillion in private investment, generate production value of NT$5.9 trillion and create 551,000 jobs, Kung said.
To encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to cut emissions, the government is studying incentive measures, including subsidies and tax breaks, he added.
Environmental Protection Administration Minister Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬) said that discussions on issues related to carbon pricing, such as emissions trading systems and carbon taxes, were under way.
Chang has called for a carbon tax that reflects the true cost of greenhouse gas emissions and does not place undue burden on consumers.
Unsatisfied with the goal, several environmental groups, including the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance and Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan, yesterday in a joint statement said the government needs to take more ambitious actions to decrease emissions, adding that the 23 to 25 percent emissions reduction target is not sufficient.
The government is reviewing its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution target of reducing emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels, the base year for long-term efforts. It is also preparing updated contribution targets as required by the Paris Agreement.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in a new report said that while many countries are reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, the 193 parties under the Paris Agreement would still increase emissions by 10.6 percent by 2030, compared with 2010 levels.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old