Monthly News Review: December 2022
Taiwan announces new 2030 GHGs reduction goals and 12 strategies for achieve net zero emissions
Why You Should Know
Nine months after the announcement of “Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050” on 3 March 2022, the Taiwan government has just set a new goal of cutting emissions by 23%-25% by 2030, and revealed its key strategies to implement the net zero pathway.
The News
Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC) revealed the mid-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal and the “12 Key Strategies” to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at a press conference on 28 December 2022.
The new goal is set to reduce GHG emissions by 23%-25% of the 2005 levels by 2030, slightly more ambitious than the previous goal (cutting emissions by 20% of the 2005 levels by 2030) submitted in its voluntary nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in 2015.
A joint statement by 6 environmental NGOs states that the goals are too passive. “After a year of intensive planning process, our government increased the goal only by four percent….we therefore question the government’s resolution to achieve net zero by 2050”
The Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFD) said the original 20% goal was already harsh enough. The 23%-25% goal is an “unbearable burden” to the industries unless the government provides sufficient support.
When asked why Taiwan’s 2030 goal is weaker than the other East Asian countries such Japan and South Korea, Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Minister Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬) said “each country has their own situation and different baseline years. If we take that into consideration, our goal is not that different from the other countries.”
The “12 Key Strategies” detailed the government’s future measurements to deliver “Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050”. The documents are available on the National Development Council’s website.
Our View
It’s a milestone, but the real challenges are ahead.
The latest “12 Key Strategies” is probably the most comprehensive nation-wide transition project in recent decades. It includes policies and measures from different government agencies, including those who are traditionally distant from environmental issues. To ensure that the transition happens in the long-term without being obstructed by parochialism and bureaucratism, a legal-binding implementation mechanism is probably most important to the transitional plan itself.
The legalization of the “Climate Change Response Act” will be the decisive moment for Taiwan’s climate action. Stay tuned.
Further Reading
Fairphone launches its latest modular smartphones in Taiwan
Why You Should Know
Growing up in the Internet age, owning a smartphone is no longer a luxury for most young people. However, when it comes to choosing our phones, we usually think about buying high-performance phones or phones from reputable brands instead of greener and more sustainable devices. This may boil down to multiple reasons. Nevertheless, in recent years, some electronics manufacturers are trying to challenge the status quo. Enter “Fairphone”.
The News
Fairphone, cooperating with two other Taiwanese service providers, held a press conference in Taiwan on December 8, announcing its latest product “Fairphone 4”, which would launch on December 12. Known as the greenest mobile phone on the market, Fairphone 4 is the fifth generation product from this Dutch-based social enterprise. The company claims that Fairphone 4, as a modular smartphone, can be fixed and updated through simple procedures and a screwdriver, giving consumers more flexibility to adjust and fix their phones by themselves instead of simply buying new phones.
Aiming to extend the mobile phone lifespan, decrease electronic waste and carbon emissions, and also to protect workers’ rights and interests, the company is looking forward to fulfilling its social responsibility and expanding its influence in the industry of sustainable electronics. Additionally, the company provides consumers who focus on and care about environmental protection and labor issues an alternative to make a difference in their daily life.
Our View
Although mobile phones have become essential purchases for most people these days, discussions of buying more eco-friendly and sustainable ones are still rarely heard in Taiwan, which may be a major hurdle for the company to expand its market here. This circumstance may be due to several reasons. For one thing, the public may not be educated about how these electronic devices can seriously harm the environment. Another reason might be that due to shopping habits and usage patterns, people tend to pursue devices with better quality, such as bigger screens, larger storage, and higher resolution, rather than choosing those that are more environmentally friendly and also last longer.
Nevertheless, we believe that the promotion of Fairphone 4 can still have a positive impact on society, since it can induce the public to rethink their decision toward choosing their smartphones, and also remind people that high-tech products can pollute the environment and we are responsible for it. In addition, as the country is moving towards the goal of Net-Zero Emissions in 2050, encouraging people to change their behaviors in their daily life can also make a significant difference.
Further Reading
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20221208PD213/mobile.html
Executive writers: Shun-Te Wang and Sophia Chueh
Proofreader: Edward Sihua Yang
