Environmental Protection Administration Minister Lee Ying-yuan published an op-ed in media outlets around the world Oct. 13-16 highlighting Taiwan’s efforts to tackle global warming and calling on the international community to support its meaningful participation in the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Titled “Taiwan seeks to join fight against global warming,” Lee’s article was carried or reported on by several newspapers in the Philippines including The Manila Times. It was also run by media outlets in New Zealand, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Solomon Islands.
“As a member of the international community, Taiwan cannot be a mere spectator to this problem and must come up with feasible solutions to live up to the name of Formosa, ‘beautiful island,’” the minister wrote.
Lee cited the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, which was passed by the Legislative Yuan and took effect in July 2015, as a major example of the nation’s measures to address climate change. “Taiwan is among only a few countries in the world that have written into law a target for reducing greenhouse emissions,” he continued.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to promote renewable energy and the circular economy, the minister expressed Taiwan’s desire to work with friendly nations on fostering sustainable growth. “We are willing to share our environmental protection experiences and contribute to international efforts.”
Similarly, Kung Chung-chen, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, penned an article titled “Let Taiwan join in climate change talks” published Oct. 15 by the Ottawa Citizen. In the piece, he stressed the significance of including Taiwan in the global climate network.
“Climate change is a global issue that knows no borders,” Kung wrote. “It requires not only national, but global solutions.”
According to the most recent statistics from the International Energy Agency, an autonomous intergovernmental organization based in Paris, Taiwan produced 249.66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from fuel combustion in 2014, or 0.77 percent of the worldwide total. That translated to 10.68 metric tons per capita, ranking the nation 19th globally.
Under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, Taiwan has pledged to reduce carbon emissions to half the 2005 levels by 2050. This objective is in line with the targets in the Paris Agreement, which was reached at the 21st annual Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in the French capital last year. COP 22 will be held in Marrakech, Morocco from Nov. 7-18. (OC-E)
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