President Lai Ching-te convened the third meeting of the National Climate Change Committee at the Presidential Office Jan. 23 in Taipei City, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to taking decisive climate change actions.
Citing World Meteorological Organization statistics, Lai said 2024 was the warmest year in history and was marked with extreme weather conditions such as persistent high temperatures, severe droughts, strong winds and disastrous rainfalls. The ongoing wildfire in the U.S. city of Los Angeles also reflects the urgency of climate change adaptation, he added.
As countries around the world get ready to update their 2035 nationally determined contributions starting in February, Taiwan is resolute in its determination to achieve its own carbon emission reduction goals, the president said.
To this end, Cabinet agencies have worked diligently and consulted with experts to review progress of ongoing carbon reduction measures, Lai said, adding that the country’s new targets have been set at 30-34 percent of 2005 levels for 2032 and 36-40 percent for 2035.
The president went on to stress how important it is for the business sector and all other segments of society to work together to achieve these ambitious goals. He directed the Ministries of Education and Environment to roll out more climate change education initiatives in line with Taiwan's Climate Change Response Act.
More public awareness projects are also required to promote a low-carbon lifestyle and reach social consensus on behavioral changes necessary to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 for the benefit of all, Lai added.
Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)
