The circular economy roadmap for 2050 is to be unveiled next year at the earliest, with resilience corridors built to address various challenges, President William Lai (賴清德) said at the fifth National Climate Change Countermeasures Committee meeting yesterday.
Typhoons Danas and Ragasa caused catastrophes such as flooding and landslides in Taiwan this year, and abnormally high temperatures continued nationwide, he said.
Those are clear warnings that climate-related disasters would become more frequent and severe, Lai said.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Extreme weather has become more frequent globally and is impacting the society and economy of almost every country, he said.
The international trade landscape is also restructuring drastically, with new tariff barriers and emerging green supply chain requirements posing challenges to Taiwan’s export-oriented economy, he added.
The pressure from climate and economic changes has caused unease in society and increased uncertainty about the future, Lai said, adding that the government has a clear attitude toward these issues and would back Taiwanese and the nation’s industries.
Taiwan must be consistent in its green transition, he said.
A more resilient Taiwan that can better adapt to climate change would be more prosperous and economically independent, Lai said.
The Ministry of Environment has unveiled the draft bill for its circular economy roadmap for 2050, with the official version to be announced next year at the earliest, Lai said, adding that the ministry is also working on amendments to resource circulation regulations.
The added value created by the domestic green technology sector surpassed NT$500 billion (US$16.3 billion) last year, accounting for 2 percent of GDP, he said.
Meanwhile, added value from the circular economy, energy efficiency and renewable energy systems accounted for 73 percent of the sector’s total added value, which showed that these fields are crucial and that green growth is a driving force for overall national development, Lai said.
That is the fruit of the government’s efforts in promoting circular economy and energy transition policies, he added.
The government would also encourage more net zero initiatives in society, Lai said.
The Ministry of the Interior’s goal would be to reduce carbon emissions of the residential and commercial sector by 35 percent by 2030, aiming to promote energy-saving housing, he said.
The Ministry of Environment would propose ways to meet net zero targets while lowering air pollution to ensure clean air and improve public health, he added.
The road to net zero would have many challenges, but Taiwan should not change direction due to temporary difficulties, Lai said.
The government would work with the private sector to bolster the nation’s ability to deal with disasters, he said, adding that it would also set up more comprehensive climate adaptation mechanisms and construct resilience corridors to tackle different challenges.
The committee has two new members: National Cheng Kung University architecture professor Lin Tzu-ping (林子平) and Executive Yuan Youth Advisory Committee member Lei Ya-chi (雷雅淇), who is also managing director of Science Media Center Taiwan.
Executive Yuan Secretary-General Xavier Chang (張惇涵) and Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) are the committee’s executive secretaries.
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
Fung-wong has been downgraded to a tropical storm from a typhoon as it approaches Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The storm has weakened, but would still pose a major threat to Taiwan and its surrounding waters as it comes closer, CWA forecaster Chu Mei-lin (朱美霖) told reporters. As of 9am, the center of Tropical Storm Fung-wong was 360km southwest of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point, and moving north-northeast to northeast at 12kph. It was carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 108kph and gusts of 137kph, compared with 119kph and 155kph respectively recorded at about 7am
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