Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday called for more proactive action against climate change to keep pace with other nations, starting with amending a climate-related law to help industries reduce carbon emissions.
The legislators’ appeal comes a week after the EU unveiled a broad climate plan that includes a “carbon border adjustment mechanism,” which, if approved, would impose a border tax on imports from countries with less-stringent climate policies from 2026.
Japan has also indicated interest in creating a similar mechanism, while US Democrats on Monday introduced legislation that would impose a tariff on certain carbon-intensive imports.
This indicates that a new stage in the battle over global supply chains has begun, DPP Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) told a virtual news conference, adding that as a major exporter, Taiwan must be proactive in response.
“Many friends in industry are well aware that this is a hurdle to their survival,” so they are greatly concerned about the progress of government policy, he said.
“They hope the government can back their move toward a low-carbon economy,” he added.
A crucial milestone in this transition would be a complete overhaul of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act (溫室氣體減量及管理法), he said.
In December last year, a bipartisan group of 20 legislators introduced a bill to replace the act, which Hung at the time said had proven incapable of curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The bill includes a carbon levy — a key component to meeting the proposed EU regulation, Hung said.
No one is a bystander in the fight against climate change, Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said, adding that the government must take on the greatest responsibility.
Seven amendments to the act have been proposed by the legislature, Tsai said, calling on the Executive Yuan to propose its own version as soon as possible, so the matter could be deliberated during this legislative session.
The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) earlier this year announced a NT$100 tax per tonne of carbon emissions, but it is unclear whether the minimal sum would have the desired effect of curbing emissions to meet international standards, DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) said.
However, a report published in July last year by a British think tank commissioned by the EPA and British Office Taipei suggested starting from a base tax of NT$300 per tonne of carbon emitted, to be adjusted upward over time, Su added.
Not only must the act be amended, but the EPA, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other agencies must take part in making and enforcing rules on carbon pricing, and drawing up a roadmap for carbon reduction, she said.
The EU would only become tougher on the issue, “so if you have to pay a carbon tariff, why not pay your own people first?” DPP Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said.
The government should take a gradual approach, first adopting a carbon fee to get industries used to the cost and using public funds to reduce emissions, before eventually falling in line with EU standards, she said.
Businesses should publish corporate social responsibility documents that clearly show annual emissions, and set near, middle and long-term carbon reduction goals, she added.
At the same time, regulatory mechanisms should be set up to track progress and set a unified definition of “carbon neutrality,” Lin said.
Lastly, environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria should be used to encourage banks to give preferential loans to companies with good ESG ratings, she added.
‘FAILED TACTICS’: A lawmaker said Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan’s success at boosting its ties internationally have boosted identification as Taiwanese Self-identification as “Taiwanese and Chinese,” or solely as “Chinese,” has dropped to record lows, while 63.3 percent of the public regard themselves as Taiwanese, a survey released on Tuesday by National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center showed. Respondents identifying as Taiwanese and Chinese dropped to 31.4 percent, while those identifying solely as Chinese fell to 2.7 percent, the survey showed. The results reflect changes in attitudes since 1994 among Taiwanese toward independence and unification with China, as well as self-identification trends since 1992, commenters said. Support for independence was 25.8 percent, while about 5 percent of respondents said that they want the nation
ONLY EXCEPTIONS: The mayors of the two largest cities voiced concerns over hidden cases, while all other local governments are to follow eased CECC guidelines All local governments, with the exception of Taipei and New Taipei City, are to allow dine-in services at restaurants after the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Friday announced that it would on Tuesday lower a nationwide COVID-19 alert to level 2. The center on July 8 allowed the resumption of dining at restaurants nationwide — despite keeping the alert level at 3. At the time, this prompted all cities and counties, except Penghu Country, to keep local dine-in bans in place. Following Friday’s CECC announcement that COVID-19 prevention measures would be further relaxed, the Taipei and New Taipei City governments
‘NOT IMPOSSIBLE’: Acceptance to the UN would end the nation’s troubles, but it would be impossible to achieve without US backing, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun said The US might recognize Taiwan if war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) said yesterday while discussing politics with former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). Speaking on Chen’s program on Smile Radio, You reminisced about his agrarian childhood, studies, the founding of the Democratic Progressive Party in 1986 and his eight years as Yilan County commissioner. Chen’s appointment of You as premier in February 2002 marked several firsts, as he was Taiwan’s youngest premier, as well as the first from a farming background and first democratically elected county leader to hold the office. Asked to share his views on
‘STILL UNDER CONTROL’: The center also reported the first fatality involving the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, a woman in her 70s who died on Wednesday The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported 30 domestic COVID-19 cases, three imported cases and four deaths. Of the local cases, 15 were men and 15 were women, with the onset of symptoms reported between Saturday and Wednesday, the center said. Taipei and New Taipei City recorded 11 cases each, Taoyuan had seven cases and Hsinchu City had one, it said. Twenty-four of the local cases had known sources of infection, five had unclear links with confirmed cases and one was under investigation, it said. Despite the relatively high number of cases yesterday, the COVID-19 situation “is still under control,” Minister of Health
RSS