The ROC Council for Economic Planning and Development passed an Environmental Protection Administration project April 22 to transform the outlying island of Kinmen into a low-carbon county.
“The program is designed to reduce annual per capita carbon emissions from the 2009 figure of 3.79 metric tons to 3 metric tons in 2014, and 2 metric tons by 2020,” a CEPD official said. “We expect to reach the goal of zero carbon in 2030.”
The plan’s flagship missions are green energy and transportation, a low-carbon campus for Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc., Leiyu as a zero-carbon island, low-carbon community construction, resource recycling and a regional biomass energy center, as well as promotion of healthy, sustainable lifestyles, the official said.
“Once the project is carried out, 69.39 megawatts of renewable energy will be generated annually, while cutting carbon emissions by 600,000 tons,” the official said. “It is also expected to drive local green energy businesses and low-carbon tourism, creating 1,000 jobs.”
The plan will run from 2013 to 2018 at a cost of NT$4.3 billion (US$144 million). (THN)
Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw