Taiwan pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 26-30% by 2030

Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) Taiwan's government on Thursday pledged to reduce carbon emissions between 26 and 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, saying the more ambitious goal reflected the nation's commitment to net zero.

Speaking as the Presidential Office's climate change committee convened for the third time, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced what he called the government's "more ambitious carbon reduction targets."

According to Lai, Taiwan will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. The original goal was a reduction of between 23 and 25 percent.

That means Taiwan's carbon emissions would need to drop to between 198.98 MtCO2e and 188.23 MtCO2e by 2030.

Moreover, the president added that carbon emissions should be reduced between 30 and 34 percent by 2032 and 36 to 40 percent by 2035.

Lai said that these targets were finalized after meticulous reviews and plans by the government.

"It is crucial for [the people of Taiwan] to take more active steps in fulfilling our responsibilities to the international community," he said, referring to the global net-zero movement.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明) noted that while Taiwan emitted 264.133 MtCO2e of carbon in 2022, just a 1.77 percent decrease, he is confident the country will see "significant progress" by 2025 as additional measures are implemented.

He estimated that by 2025, the reduction will near 10 percent.

Kao Shien-quey (高仙桂), deputy head of the National Development Council, said making the installation of solar panels mandatory for new property projects was part of the additional measures the government will take to help achieve the new carbon reduction targets.

Kao added that doing so will also increase the share of alternative energy and reduce reliance on electricity generated by fossil fuels.

She said that to reduce carbon emissions in the manufacturing sector, the government will urge the country's top 500 emitters to implement carbon reduction strategies while supporting approximately 140,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in improving their energy efficiency.

The climate change committee is one of three established under the Presidential Office, alongside the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee and the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, serving as an ad-hoc advisory body to the executive branch.