Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming attended the 2025 Japan Energy Summit June 18 in Tokyo to bring participants up to speed on Taiwan’s climate policies and spotlight the country’s active participation in regional climate governance.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Peng took part in the ministerial panel entitled “Accelerating Asia’s Ambitions: Fostering International Cooperation for a Sustainable Future.” The other panelist was Nobuo Tanaka, executive director emeritus of the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
Peng said Taiwan’s latest Nationally Determined Contributions goal is to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by between 36 percent and 40 percent of 2005 levels by 2035, which is the second most ambitious goal in Asia after Japan.
The country shut down Unit 2 of its Maanshan nuclear power plant last month, Peng said, adding that as the government continues to promote energy transition, it strives to ensure a stable energy supply and maintains an open approach to discussing and evaluating new forms of energy.
Citing President Lai Ching-te’s “two musts and three principles” for Taiwan’s future nuclear policy, the minister said the government will adopt a prudent approach and take reference from the global community to formulate the best emission reduction roadmap for Taiwan.
In terms of policy tools, Peng said Taiwan is working to establish its own carbon pricing and trading mechanisms and will start carbon trading on a trial basis from the second half of 2026 through 2028. He called on Asian countries to work hand in hand to forge a regional carbon reduction market and cooperation network.
The minister said the government is sparing no effort to develop green energy sources including solar energy, offshore wind power and hydrogen energy and related supply chains, as well as net-zero emission technology such as carbon capture and utilization and energy storage.
Taiwan remains committed to its net-zero emission policy goal and looks forward to expanding experience sharing with its global partners to accelerate progress in green energy development and decarbonization, Peng added. (SFC-E)
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