Taiwan passes amendments to climate change laws; 2050 net-zero goal

If approved by the Executive Yuan, the bill would establish a national goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

As per the bill, all levels of the government have to work with citizens, businesses and civil groups to reduce emissions, as well as promote negative emissions technologies and international cooperation.

It would task the Executive Yuan’s National Council of Sustainable Development with negotiating, delegating and coordinating national responses to climate change, while the central government would be ordered to develop an action plan that is reviewed at least once every four years, Taiwanese media outlets reported.

The bill wants local governments to work with experts and civil groups to form an implementation strategy that meets the requirements of the national action plan, which would be sent to a dedicated committee to execute.

The bill’s final version sets up a carbon taxing mechanism, with the central government as the sole collector. Importers would be required to declare emissions linked to their products and pay accordingly.

All proceeds must be allocated to a climate change response fund, which is to be used for emissions source inspections, national and local carbon reduction efforts, subsidies and rewards for businesses working on greenhouse gas reduction technologies, transitional justice and other related matters, the bill says.

The Environmental Protection Administration will work out details of the carbon pricing scheme, which is to be implemented next year at the earliest.

The first stage of the rollout would target about 287 companies that emit at least 25,000 tonnes of carbon annually, comprising nearly 80 per cent of the nation’s emissions.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)