Taipeh – Taiwan is striving to reduce greenhouse gases, with related government policies decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions, according to the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration Sept. 23.

The latest EPA statistics reveal that Taiwan’s emissions increased on average 0.08 percent annually between 2005 and 2016. This is in comparison to an average rise of 5.08 percent annually between 1990 and 2005.

At the same time, the country’s gross domestic product surged 42 percent, indicating carbon intensity of GDP declined 28 percent, the EPA said.

Taiwan’s emissions have been steady since 2005, the benchmark year specified in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act. The legislation stipulates that Taiwan will slash its greenhouse gas emissions to under 50 percent of the 2005 level by 2050.

The EPA attributed this progress to a raft of measures since 2017, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control Action Program and National Climate Change Action Guidelines.

According to the EPA, from 2005 Taiwan averaged an increase of 0.1 percent in carbon emissions, which accounts for nearly 90 percent of all greenhouse gases. This positions the country above Japan with a decrease of 0.1 percent, but lower than Singapore, 1.6 percent; South Korea, 2.3 percent; and China, 4.8 percent.

The EPA said it will keep a close eye on global developments, and propose appropriate policy and implementation measures as required. It is also working closely with public and private sector entities to bring Taiwan’s practices further in line with international standards while transforming the country into a low-carbon and sustainable homeland. (TaiwanToday)