Environmental organizations are calling for Taiwan's government to raise short-term goals for reducing carbon emissions. Activists rallied together on Tuesday at Taiwan's Legislature in response to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference that began on Sunday.
Environmental group advisor Tsai Chung-yueh (蔡中岳) says Taiwan needs to adjust its carbon emission goal for 2030 like other countries have done. Taiwan's current 2030 goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 20% which is low in comparison as a step to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Tsai says local governments throughout Taiwan are aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 30% to nearly 60% by 2030. He says the central government should follow suit if local governments can set higher regional goals.
International Climate Development Institute research director Chao Chia-wei (趙家緯) says Taiwan must lower carbon emissions by 40% before 2030 if the country wants to reach its net-zero goal by 2050. He says if Taiwan only reduces emissions by 20% in 2030, the country will have to reduce its pollution by almost 11 million tons every year leading up to 2050.
Green Citizens' Action Alliance researcher Chin Shu-huai (秦書淮) says the plan for national carbon fees will be pushed back if Taiwan doesn't adjust its carbon emission goal this year. Chin says Taiwan could lose NT$60 billion (US$1.9 billion) per year if it doesn't collect carbon fees.