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.
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