Articles identifying the need for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change underway in Marrakech, Morocco, were recently run by French and Dutch publications.
In the piece published Nov. 7 by French online daily France Soir, author Damien Durand set out a strong case for Taiwan’s inclusion in the U.N. specialized agency. He quoted Environmental Protection Administration Minister Lee Ying-yuan as stating that Taiwan has made significant contributions in combating climate change, and highlighted President Tsai Ing-wen’s goal of transforming Taiwan into a nuclear-free homeland by 2025.
The fact that Taiwan is playing its part in fighting what is considered one of the greatest threats to future generations was also highlighted by Durand, who cited the country’s commitment to ensuring its related laws are in line with UNFCCC standards.
In the article published Nov. 4 by Dutch magazine Azie Down Under, author Huub de Jonge questioned the wisdom of excluding Taiwan from the UNFCCC and International Civil Aviation Organization, particularly at a time when ICAO is pursuing concerted action to reduce from 2.5 percent the international tourism and freight sector’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
De Jonge also reiterated Lee’s position that the international community should recognize the efforts Taiwan has taken against global warming and support the country’s bid for meaningful participation in the UNFCCC. These include enacting the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act last July; lifting production of renewable energy to 20 percent of the country’s total by 2050; and establishing a specialized Cabinet-level office tasked with planning and coordinating a national energy policy, as well as promoting the rollout of newer forms of energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Taiwan is among only a few countries in the world that have written into law a target for reducing carbon emissions. Under the GGRM Act, the country aims to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.
Not a signatory to the UNFCCC and excluded from COP meetings, Taiwan has taken part in peripheral events of the agency’s sessions as a nongovernmental organization observer since 1995 through Industrial Technology Research Institute based in Hsinchu County, northern Taiwan. (KWS-E)
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