On Dec. 30, 2024, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) announced the “Bill for Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Periodic Regulatory Goals” and relevant information on public hearings, in accordance with Article 10 of the “Climate Change Response Act.” 

The bill raises Taiwan’s net greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for 2030 from a 24±1% reduction compared to the 2005 baseline – as outlined in the 2022 nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – to 28±2%. In addition, the bill introduces an electricity emission factor target of 0.319 kg CO2e/kWh by 2030, a 35% decrease from current levels. 

It also outlines periodic regulatory goals for the energy, manufacturing, residential and commercial, transportation, agriculture, and environment sectors.

According to the MOENV, the public hearing for the “Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Periodic Regulatory Goals (Bill)” will be held and livestreamed from the ministry’s conference hall on the second-floor of the MOENV Rear Building, on Feb. 7, 2025 at 2 p.m. The ministry said it looked forward to a science-based public dialogue. 

It reiterated that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) vowed during the National Climate Change Countermeasures Committee meeting on Oct. 24, 2024, to enhance climate action in order to improve the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s industries, accelerate Taiwan’s pace of alignment with international standards, and review the goals for 2030. The president urged the government to show greater ambition in its efforts to rise above obstacles and set new carbon reduction goals for 2032 and 2035.

In response, the MOENV proposed the “Bill for Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Periodic Regulatory Goals”. The bill has been submitted to the Climate Change and Net-Zero Transition Task Force (Net-Zero Task Force) of the National Council for Sustainable Development, Executive Yuan, so that a system for coordination can be established for interministerial collaboration. 

Since August 2024, the Net-Zero Task Force has convened frequent meetings, including 10 interministerial discussion sessions, two ministerial decision-making meetings, and three Net-Zero Task Force meetings. Furthermore, the task force has consulted experts, including those on the National Climate Change Countermeasures Committee, to review several flagship programs.

In terms of the energy sector, the task force aims to accelerate renewable energy adoption such as wind and solar power, while reinforcing energy transition by encouraging the application of breakthroughs, such as: geothermal energy and small-scale hydropower; developing energy storage technology; decarbonized and hydrogen fuels; hydrogen (including ammonia) supply chains; and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology. 

In the manufacturing sector, the task force aims to promote voluntary reductions, deep energy savings, and emission cuts by state-owned enterprises to accelerate industrial transition.

Meanwhile, for the residential and commercial sector, the task force aims to implement net-zero building standards and deep energy efficiency measures to facilitate energy transition in society. In the transportation sector, it aims to electrify and decarbonize commercial vehicles and adopt sustainable aviation fuel.

In terms of the agricultural sector, the task force aims to enhance agricultural ecosystem resilience, carbon sinks, and sustainable low-carbon agriculture. In the environment sector, it intends to launch a resource recycling flagship program and initiate carbon pricing mechanisms.

The MOENV emphasized that, in comparison to Taiwan’s neighboring countries and using the same baseline year (2005), the 28±2% national carbon reduction goal for 2030 as updated in the “Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Periodic Regulatory Goals (Bill)” places Taiwan behind only Japan, which has set a goal of 41%. When measured against the peak emissions of other countries, Taiwan’s 2030 reduction goal of 34-38% (compared to 2007) is close to South Korea’s 40%, which is second only to Japan’s 46%.

Looking forward, the government plans to propose through the National Climate Change Countermeasures Committee new carbon reduction goals for 2032 and 2035 that align with international standards.

Towards meeting the new goals, the MOENV will expand greenhouse gas inventory targets to include entities that currently, under the “Greenhouse Gas Emission Volume Inventory, Filing, and Verification Categorization Rules,” are only required to submit greenhouse gas inventory data but are not subject to verification and carbon fees. Starting in 2026, entities that meet conditions announced by the MOENV must file their previous year’s greenhouse gas emission volume inventory by April 30 of each year. 

The planned expansion will include about 500 additional entities in about 20,000 locations that emit over 5,000 metric tons of CO2e per single location, or over 10,000 metric tons CO2e per company. These include entities from sectors including: information services, department stores, shopping malls, wholesale stores, railway and metro systems, hotels, higher education institutions, convenience store chains with over 100 locations, supermarkets, telecommunication operators, transportation and logistics companies operating over 200 vehicles, medical centers, and medium-sized manufacturers emitting over 10,000 metric tons CO2e per location.

Through the expanded inventory, more businesses will gain an insight into the correlation between energy use and carbon emissions, enabling them to identify high-emission sources and enhance energy-saving measures for greater effectiveness in emission reduction.

In addition to the expanded inventory targets, government agencies will also participate in carbon inventory efforts. The MOENV completed its internal greenhouse gas inventory for 2023 in November and plans to promote similar efforts across all government agencies by conducting workshops. 

Starting in 2025, government agencies will conduct internal inventories, fostering collaboration across public and private sectors and industries to amplify reduction efforts. According to the MOENV, relevant public hearing information, registration details, and materials are available on a website designated by the central competent authority for the “Enforcement Rules of the Climate Change Response Act” (Climate Info Hub, https://www.cca.gov.tw/info/) and the "New 2030 National Carbon Reduction Goal" webpage (https://gov.tw/tgk). Public comments can be submitted online until Feb. 10. 

Citizens are encouraged to share their insights and participate in climate action.