President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday reiterated the nation’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, adding that a series of enforcement rules would soon be added to the Climate Change Response Act (氣候變遷因應法).
Tsai made the remarks when meeting with representatives of environmental protection groups at a National Environmental Conference yesterday afternoon, adding that her government would continue to bolster the resilience of the power grid and install more energy storage facilities to ensure power supply stability.
Tsai said that the Legislative Yuan this session has passed many important bills and amendments related to environmental sustainability, including the Mining Act (礦業法), the Marine Pollution Control Act (海洋污染防治法) and the Marine Industry Development Regulations (海洋產業發展條例).
Photo: screen shot from a Presidential Office video
The controversial “overlord clause” in the Mining Act was removed following six years of deliberation, and the management and control of the mining industry has been comprehensively improved, she said.
Local residents and indigenous people also have a mechanism to manage the areas where mining takes place, she said.
“The Marine Pollution Control Act and the newly formulated Marine Industry Development Regulations strengthen the mechanisms for dealing with marine pollution,” Tsai said.
In addition to passing the Climate Change Response Act at the beginning of this year, the government also proposed a path toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Tsai said, adding that enforcement rules would be proposed.
Carbon trading, incremental offsets and voluntary reductions are the government’s three-pronged approach to achieve the goal of net zero emissions, she said, adding that a carbon exchange is to be established in the second half of the year.
Taiwan has also made progress in the use of renewable energy, Tsai said.
Last year, the installations of wind power and photovoltaics both hit single-year highs, generating 14 terawatt-hours, five times that of 2016, she said.
Meanwhile, power generated via renewable energy also surpassed that created by nuclear power plants for the first time, she added.
“With the passage of the amendment to the Renewable Energy Development Act (再生能源發展條例), a more eco-friendly environment would be created through the development of renewable energy, including geothermal power generation and other emerging energy sources,” Tsai said.
By 2030, new power plants, after excluding renewable energy and deducting the net increase of decommissioned units, would generate 9.1 gigawatt-hours, she said, adding that the increase would be close to three times the energy generated by the first and second nuclear power plants combined.
“The certification mechanism and standards for ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ is a topic advocated by many environmentalists at the conference this year and the government hopes to incorporate such an international trend into its policies,” Tsai said.
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