The 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30) will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. In alignment with international efforts, Taiwan has officially announced its 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). Although Taiwan is not a party to the Climate Convention, it voluntarily adheres to the Convention's norms, comprehensively presenting its efforts and achievements in decarbonization and sustainable transition to the international community. This action echoes the COP30 spirit of "Global Mutirão", as Taiwan works collaboratively toward net-zero sustainability.

The Ministry of Environment (MOENV) held a press conference on November 7 to officially announce "Taiwan's 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)" and the establishment of the COP30 War Room.

Minister Peng Chi-Ming delivered his remarks in both Mandarin and English, stating that Taiwan has recently been confronted with a series of extreme weather events, indicating increasingly severe climate risks. Therefore, the work of carbon reduction and adaptation is an urgent priority.

Under the guidance of Vice Premier Cheng of the Executive Yuan, the Executive Yuan team completed the Cross-Ministerial Taiwan Comprehensive Carbon Reduction Action Plan. Following its submission to the Presidential Office's National Climate Change Response Committee and extensive societal dialogue, the new version of Taiwan's NDC 3.0 was formally approved by Premier Cho on November 3.

The core carbon reduction targets, benchmarked against the 2005 emissions level, are set at a 28%±2% reduction by 2030 and a 38%±2% reduction by 2035. This places Taiwan's ambition second only to Japan in Asia, and comparable to South Korea's goals. Minister Peng described this as a highly challenging, "Moon-Landing Class" target that will require the joint efforts of the central government, local authorities, industry, and the entire society to reach.

Minister Peng emphasized that Taiwan has achieved remarkable results in greenhouse gas reduction in recent years, noting that compared to the baseline year, the reduction was 1.77% in 2022 and 4.64% in 2023, with the latest data projecting a further reduction of 6.7% in 2024, representing a 2.15% decrease from the previous year. Thus three consecutive years of significant carbon reduction would be achieved, placing Taiwan's performance in Asia second only to Japan, for which the minister thanked the joint efforts of all citizens. At COP30 taking place in Brazil this year, Taiwan will utilize the officially approved NDC 3.0 to demonstrate its commitment to the international community. Minister Peng stressed that although Taiwan cannot officially attend the conference as a non-signatory party, it equally faces the threat of extreme climate events and will contribute its efforts through multiple channels to ensure the international community recognizes Taiwan's sincerity and action.

The MOENV explained that the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is the climate action plan required of every signatory to the Paris Agreement, calling for disclosure of measures for greenhouse gas reduction, mitigation targets, and climate change adaptation efforts. It operates on a mechanism requiring targets to be updated and enhanced at least every five years. Specifically, NDC 3.0, which sets targets for the year 2035, was required to be submitted before COP30 this year. As of November 6, a total of 72 signatory Parties have submitted their NDC 3.0, collectively accounting for approximately 62% of global emissions.

The MOENV emphasized that Taiwan has aligned with international efforts by updating and submitting its NDC since 2020. In January 2025, the National Climate Change Committee submitted the NDC 3.0 (beta version), setting ambitious targets against the 2005 baseline year for net national greenhouse gas emissions: a reduction of 28%±2% by 2030, 32%±2% by 2032, and 38%±2% by 2035. Following intensive public dialogue and broad consultation with industry, government, academia, research institutions, and civil society, the Executive Yuan officially approved the NDC 3.0 on November 3. The MOENV explained that the 38%±2% reduction target by 2035 covers ten major dimensions, including: Equity and Ambition; Domestic Legal Framework and Climate Governance in Taiwan; Energy Transition and Smart Green Energy Strategy; Twin Transitions toward Digital and Green Industries; Green Finance and Carbon Pricing; Net-Zero Sustainable Green Living and Community-Driven Action; Just Transition and Green Collar Talent; International Cooperation; Climate Change Adaptation; and, Human Rights, Gender Equality, and the Rights of Children and Youth. This comprehensive plan showcases Taiwan's concrete climate action to the international community and serves as the core of the nation's efforts toward global climate cooperation.

The MOENV pointed out that this year's COP30 is themed "Global Mutirão," emphasizing cross-level and cross-sector collaboration to fully implement the Paris Agreement, focusing on the new round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by countries and deliberating subsequent actions and support mechanisms based on the Global Stocktake (GST) results. Taiwan continues to participate in international climate action in 2025 by upholding the principles of "Professionalism, Pragmatism, and Contribution," aiming to observe global climate negotiations and continuously strive for opportunities to participate in international intergovernmental organizations. This year, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education's Youth Overseas Dream Fund (Youth Billions Overseas Dream Fund) program, Taiwan publicly selected youth representatives to attend COP30 to participate in discussions, while Taiwan think tanks, NGOs, and businesses will actively participate in peripheral activities, showcasing the combined energy of civil society and the government in advancing climate action. Furthermore, Taiwan has proactively made relevant climate convention documents public, including the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), and the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NIR), and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Paris Agreement with diplomatic ally Paraguay. These actions demonstrate Taiwan's climate commitment and action to the world, and its willingness to continue sharing experiences in climate change response with various countries, thus embodying the Paris Agreement’s spirit of fairness and global cooperation.

In response to international climate action, the Ministry of Environment's Climate Change Administration has established a dedicated section on its official website titled "Participate in International Climate Action" (URL: https://gov.tw/dQK). This website provides comprehensive information on the progress of climate conventions in recent years, Taiwan's proactive participation in them (including past War Room information, and downloadable Chinese and English documents on its voluntary compliance: the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports (NIRs)), as well as results from international climate action comparisons and exchanges. The public is invited to use this platform to stay informed about international development trends and join the government in taking global climate action.