A Green Development Fund Office is to be launched today, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭?明) said yesterday, after the Cabinet approved adjusted goals for the third phase of its greenhouse gas emissions targets.
The Ministry of Environment would begin accepting investment requests after the office receives funding in the second quarter of this year, Peng said.
The ministry said it proposed a project to strengthen the National Development Council’s investment in net-zero industries for NT$10 billion (US$332.6 million) last year, which was approved.
Photo: Chen Chia-yi, Taipei Times
The Presidential Office’s National Climate Change Committee previously announced that it was adjusting the nation’s carbon reduction goal base year — defined as 2005 — by plus or minus 2 percentage points.
This means that the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent and 38 percent by 2032 and 2035 respectively would be more flexible by 2 percentage points, it said.
The proposal was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.
The government aims to promote carbon reduction to achieve net zero, and urged all ministries to step up measures to propose actionable carbon reduction plans, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said, adding that the plans should incorporate public opinion.
The ministry would also assist companies that might have operational difficulties due to US tariff policies, and allow companies to apply for preferential rates if they pose a high carbon risk factor, Peng said.
The ministry said that 252 companies were to provide their autonomous carbon reduction plans by June 30, but the ministry has extended the deadline to Aug. 31.
US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause of their implementation.
However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports.
The Trump administration on April 12 exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS