The three main presidential candidates failed to adequately present their climate policies at a platform presentation on Wednesday, Greenpeace Taiwan said yesterday, adding that their policies on energy and climate change were well below average.
During the first televised debate, People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) listed climate change as the “foremost danger to Taiwan,” but failed to present tangible policies, saying only: “I will explain more in the next debate,” Greenpeace Taiwan said, giving Soong an “F” grade.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate, received a “C-minus” based on her previous campaign platform and policies enacted during her time in office, Greenpeace Taiwan said.
However, Tsai did not present any relevant policies on Wednesday, it said.
Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) candidate, was given a “D-minus,” as he mentioned policies to combat air pollution in Kaohsiung, but failed to comment on how Taiwan would face climate change issues, it said.
Compared with past presidential debates, it is evident that the three main candidates are merely aware of the danger that climate change poses, but lack solutions, it said.
Han received a slight bump in his “grade,” as he said that he would establish a ministry to oversee climate change affairs.
Should Taiwan seek be part of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, its plans and actions over the next decade are crucial, Greenpeace Taiwan said.
More than 7 million people worldwide have participated in events this year calling on governments to enact policies that would help combat climate change, it said.
There are multiple student groups and non-governmental organizations in Taiwan that are equally concerned with presidential candidates’ stances regarding the issue, it said.
Greenpeace Taiwan project director Tang An (唐安) said that climate change affects Taiwan greatly.
“Amid growing climate change effects, our presidential candidates mentioned nothing about it during the debate,” Tang said.
“This is wasting precious time that Taiwan could use to combat climate change and proves that they lack the farsightedness to lead Taiwan out of this quandary,” she said.
The presidential candidates need to present fleshed-out plans to cut down on carbon emissions, as well as how the nation will enact or enforce a mid to long-term energy transition plan, Greenpeace Taiwan said.
Only then can Taiwan demonstrate its resolve to be a part of the global effort to counter the effects of climate change, Greenpeace Taiwan said.
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