Climate Justice: What does climate justice mean in Taiwan? And how can we fight for it?
This essay is part of a two-part series on climate justice. In the first part, we wrote about the global history and the different dimensions of climate justice. In this part, we will look at Taiwan specifically. How do Taiwanese people view the concept of climate justice and does the government take any action? Also, what tools do we have to realize climate justice?
What is the discourse on climate justice within the context of Taiwan? In order to answer this question, we have to go back to the history of environmental movements in Taiwan.
In Taiwan, environmental advocacy was deeply influenced by the global environmental movements of the 1970s. At the time, Numerous intellectuals introduced concepts like conservation and protection to Taiwan. However, these environmental ideas had not yet spread to the general public and were affected by societal and political forces at the time since martial law was implemented from 1949 to 1987 in Taiwan. As a result, many of these initiatives struggled to persist or have a substantial impact on society.
In the 1980s, as Taiwan’s economy continued its rapid growth and society moved towards economic liberalization and political democratization, grassroots activists, intellectuals, and members of Taiwan’s political opposition began to unite. Public dissatisfaction and anger, fueled by the development of heavily polluting industries, led to the birth of Taiwan’s environmental movement. At that time, the demands varied based on the different circumstances of each case, with most campaigns generally falling into the categories of anti-pollution, anti-development, and anti-nuclear. Examples include the 1980 Lee Chang-rin Chemical Factory event in Hsinchu (新竹李長榮化工廠事件) for anti-pollution, the 1986 anti-DuPont movement in Lukang(鹿港反杜邦運動) for anti-development and the 1988 anti-nuclear waste movement in Orchid Island (蘭嶼反核廢運動) for anti-nuclear.
The movement against nuclear waste on Orchid Island is frequently cited as a prime example of environmental justice in Taiwan. In the 1970s, the Nuclear Safety Commission consulted experts on low-level nuclear waste management. The government eventually chose an offshore island — Orchid Island — for temporary storage, planning sea disposal later. However, due to international prohibitions on oceanic nuclear waste disposal, these materials became a problem stranded on the island. The local Indigenous people (the Tao tribe) saw Orchid Island bear the environmental and health risks from nuclear waste without receiving direct benefits. Moreover, as Indigenous people were already marginalized in Taiwanese society, the choice of location highlighted the “injustice” of vulnerable groups bearing the majority of pollution. In addition, the anti-nuclear waste movement was also linked to various social issues such as ethnic justice and Indigenous autonomy.
Nowadays, due to the rising global concern about climate change, the concept of “climate justice” has gained recognition as a branch of environmental justice. Various environmental groups have started to support this notion of climate justice. They believe the impact of climate change exacerbates the already precarious situations of these vulnerable groups, despite their minimal contribution to climate responsibilities. Taking Taiwan’s indigenous peoples as an example, historical complexities of governance and colonial factors have forced some indigenous communities to live in mountainous regions. However, these highland areas are more susceptible to the negative effects of the climate crisis due to deforestation and soil conservation issues, making these communities particularly vulnerable.
In Taiwan, the term “climate justice” is relatively less commonly used in public discourse and rarely found in official government documents. The term “just transition”, on the other hand, gained increased attention after the government announced “Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050”(臺灣2050淨零排放路徑及策略總說明) and “12 Key Strategies”(十二項關鍵戰略) in 2022. Discussions around just transition in Taiwan center on the 2050 net-zero transition policy. The government emphasizes the core value of “leave no one behind” during the net-zero transition, meaning efforts should be made to avoid creating “new inequalities” in the process. However, one of the current challenges in Taiwan is that “the existing inequalities” in the system are often overlooked or not recognized. As we previously said in the first part of this essay, we should not view the climate crisis just as an atmospheric phenomenon but as a crisis that exacerbates existing social inequalities. This may be a reason why research related to “climate justice” should be given more attention in Taiwan.
Finally, discussing the practical means of implementing climate justice, utilizing judicial institutions to safeguard the rights of people harmed by climate change has become an increasingly important way for advocating climate justice. Additionally, there are numerous cases where the advocacy of this concept involves activities such as protests, strikes, and school walkouts. In many countries, climate groups are collaborating with other civil society organizations. For example, in Switzerland, climate groups are striking alongside unions and feminists; in India, climate groups are participating in protests led by farmers; in the Philippines and Mexico, climate groups are standing alongside indigenous communities and fishermen.
Discussions on justice are not limited to single issues; often, the collective advocacy of relevant groups is essential to exert stronger influence and truly impact societal systems. While climate justice is still in its early stages in Taiwan, we hope that this article will stimulate more societal attention and discussion on this issue.
References:
- On the Tangwai movement in Taiwan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangwai_movement
- On the Lukang Anti-Dupont Movement in Changhua County: https://ejatlas.org/conflict/lukang-anti-dupont-movement-changhua-county-taiwan
- On the anti-nuclear waste movement in Orchid Island: https://taiwaninsight.org/2021/09/10/tao-peoples-fight-for-environmental-justice-and-subjectivity-on-orchid-island/
- Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050: https://www.ndc.gov.tw/en/Content_List.aspx?n=B154724D802DC488#:~:text=Taiwan%27s%202050%20net%2Dzero%20emissions,by%20%2212%20Key%20Strategies%22.
- 12 Key Strategies: https://www.ndc.gov.tw/en/Content_List.aspx?n=2D918002A913582A
- “A Retrospective of the Environmental Movement History in Taiwan”(臺灣環保運動歷史回顧): https://e-info.org.tw/node/213117
- “The Dawn of Taiwanese Environmentalism (1980–1986): Scholar-Experts, Political Opposition, and Grassroots Organizers”(台灣環境運動的開端：專家學者、黨外、草根(1980–1986)): https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail/P20161123001-200112-201701130022-201701130022-97-162
- “Understanding the Controversy of Nuclear Waste on Orchid Island”(蘭嶼核廢料爭議 帶你一次看懂): https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201608150076.aspx
- “From Ethnic Justice to Environmental Discourse: Frame Transformation of the Tao Anti-nuclear Waste Movement”(從族群正義到環境論述：達悟反核廢運動者的框架移轉): https://www.airitilibrary.com/Publication/alDetailedMesh?docid=02588412-201506-201511030007-201511030007-7-48
- “Climate Crisis in Taiwan: Heatwaves Threaten Tsou Culture! The Disappearing Sacred Flowers, the Golden Emperor Orchid, and Spring Bamboo Shoots in Alishan.”(氣候危機在臺灣：熱旱威脅鄒族文化！阿里山消失的神花金草蘭與春筍): https://www.greenpeace.org/taiwan/update/36726/%E6%B0%A3%E5%80%99%E5%8D%B1%E6%A9%9F%E5%9C%A8%E8%87%BA%E7%81%A3%EF%BC%9A%E7%86%B1%E6%97%B1%E5%A8%81%E8%84%85%E9%84%92%E6%97%8F%E6%96%87%E5%8C%96%EF%BC%81%E9%98%BF%E9%87%8C%E5%B1%B1%E6%B6%88%E5%A4%B1/
- “Association among Climate Disaster, Area Capital and Agricultural Production of Indigenous Peoples”(氣候變遷災害、地區資本與原住民部落農業生產之關聯性): https://www.airitilibrary.com/Article/Detail/00224847-201609-201609220013-201609220013-286-295
- “On the Road of Justice: Understanding the Concept of ‘Just Transition’”(淨零路上不遺落任何人 一文搞懂「公正轉型」是什麼？): https://e-info.org.tw/node/237039
- “Environmental Justice: Equal Access to Environmental Resources and Living Spaces for All”(環境正義：人人平等享受環境資源與生存空間): https://e-info.org.tw/column/eccpda/2004/ec04083101.htm
- “Exploring Fairness and Justice in Taiwan’s Climate Change Adaptation”(初探臺灣氣候變遷調適的公平正義): https://www.taiwansustainabilityhub.org/post/%E5%88%9D%E6%8E%A2%E8%87%BA%E7%81%A3%E6%B0%A3%E5%80%99%E8%AE%8A%E9%81%B7%E8%AA%BF%E9%81%A9%E7%9A%84%E5%85%AC%E5%B9%B3%E6%AD%A3%E7%BE%A9
Authors: Elias König and Sophia Chueh
