Calling the government’s energy policies “misguided,” the Climate Change Pioneering Alliance yesterday urged presidential candidates to sign a pledge that they would commission international experts to conduct a complete review of the mothballed Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Gongliao District (貢寮).
Only by having a broad, comprehensive view of the issue can the government decide what kind of clean power source to transition to that would best benefit the environment, alliance spokesperson Chiang Chao-yuan (江肇元) told a news conference in Taipei.
Electricity involves more than a flick of a switch or sticking plugs into outlets; it is also about transportation, smart industry, clean drinking water and food, Chiang said.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
The UN’s 24/7 Carbon-free Energy initiative — which incorporates renewable resources and nuclear power as low-carbon alternatives — is gaining increasing support from state governments, international corporations and new-general environmental protection groups, he said.
Alliance founder Yang Chia-fa (楊家法) said that because of the government’s misguided energy policies, its energy transition efforts lack public support, have failed to generate revenue for the state, would not reduce coal-fired energy production and ultimately would not benefit the public.
These policies would not reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and would not increase low-carbon energy sources, Yang added.
LowCarbonPower Ltd Co representative, Olof Nordenstam of Sweden, said that statistics and trends on energy usage from different countries show that nuclear power together with renewable energy can reduce a nation’s carbon footprint and help it achieve net zero emissions.
The alliance called on presidential candidates to pledge that they would commission foreign experts to conduct a complete and transparent inspection of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant if elected.
The group said that presidential candidates should also assess the possibility of extending the lifetime of the three nuclear power plants in service or consider updating their equipment.
Presidential candidates should also ensure that Taiwan maintains an independent atomic energy research facility that will allow the nation to keep up with international trends, the group said.
While they would not be called to commit to using nuclear energy, they should explore all options, including nuclear power, which has been proven to be a viable choice as a low-carbon alternative power source, the group said.
The alliance will provide copies of the pledge to all presidential candidates over the next three weeks in hopes that they would treat the issue seriously, Yang said.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
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