November 17, 2015
Press Release No. 265
Vanessa Y. P. Shih, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), attended a press conference on Taiwan’s policy concerning the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the premiere of the documentary Megastructures: Urban Mine, on November 17, 2015, at 2 pm at Syntrend in Taipei. Approximately 145 people attended the event, including Kuo-Yen Wei, Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration, Joanne Tsai, Executive Vice President of FOX International Channels National Geographic Channel, foreign ambassadors and representatives, members of domestic and foreign media, and business leaders.
Vice Minister Shih began by thanking Minister Wei for his introduction to Taiwan’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to meaningfully reduce carbon emissions, which are of great significance in its bid to participate meaningfully in the UNFCCC. Vice Minister Shih pointed out that the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) will be held in Paris, France, from November 30 to December 11, 2015. This event will be one of the most important climate conferences following COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, and will also be critical for Taiwan’s bid to take part in the UNFCCC.
The Lima Call for Climate Action, which was announced in 2014 at COP20 in Lima, Peru, calls on all signatories, based on their capabilities and national development, to submit INDCs concerning reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to the UNFCCC Secretariat prior to COP21. Countries across the globe must jointly take action to reduce emissions, so as to limit the increase of global temperatures to less than two degrees Celsius. Currently, over 150 signatories have already submitted INDCs to the UNFCCC Secretariat, accounting for almost 90 percent of global emissions. As a member of the international community, Taiwan is willing to work in close coordination with others to fight climate change.
Vice Minister Shih emphasized that since announcing its bid for meaningful participation in the UNFCCC in 2009, Taiwan has been consistent in its efforts to deal with the challenges presented by climate change despite the fact it is not a member of the UNFCCC. Indeed, the ROC government’s policies have been ambitious and concrete. The year 2015 has been designated as the time to take action on climate change, and Taiwan passed the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act in June, stipulating that greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by 2050 to less than 50 percent of 2005 levels. Taiwan is one of the few countries that have encoded long-term emission reduction targets into domestic law. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act was promulgated by President Ma Ying-jeou on July 1.
Meanwhile, on September 17, Premier Mao Chi-kuo officially announced Taiwan’s INDC targets, i.e., reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent relative to the business-as-usual (BAU) level by 2030, equivalent to 20 percent less than 2005 emissions levels. This target is higher than countries with economies of similar size, demonstrating Taiwan’s ambition. Not only is Taiwan taking concrete action to reduce carbon emissions, it is also proving that it is ready and willing to work in accordance with the UNFCCC’s concept of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Vice Minister Shih also stated that green energy and environmental protection will be key trends in global industry. She expressed her hope that the government’s energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction policies will lead the way in fostering industrial development toward low carbon emissions and green energy development, which could also drive economic growth in the long term. Meanwhile, Vice Minister Shih commended the National Geographic Channel for producing world-renowned, high-quality documentaries for over a decade. Its popular Megastructures documentaries highlight the most magnificent feats of modern engineering and innovative technology. The Megastructures: Urban Mine documentary shows how Taiwan firms use recycled environmental materials and natural energy-saving elements to build a world-class green recycling plant in which precious metals from electronic waste are recycled. This documentary will help people gain a better understanding of the results achieved by the ROC government and businesses in saving energy and reducing carbon emissions, and draw attention to the efforts and capabilities of Taiwan firms in the green energy and green architecture sectors.
Lastly, Vice Minister Shih reiterated that COP21 will begin in Paris in only two weeks, and urged the international community to acknowledge Taiwan’s policies and efforts in response to climate change and to take concrete action to support our Environmental Protection Administration’s participation in COP21 as a government observer with appropriate status. This would allow Taiwan to make even greater contributions to the international community in energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the fight against climate change. (E)