Kaohsiung Linyuan Industrial Park.
Preliminary figures for 2023 indicate total carbon emissions of approximately 257 billion kg, a 3.02% reduction from 2022. The Ministry of Environment plans to release the official 2023 greenhouse gas emissions inventory in June, as reported by CNA.
These reductions align with Taiwan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an ideal target of 1.5°C, per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Taiwan’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets a 23%-25% emissions reduction by 2030, 32% (±2%) by 2032, and 38% (±2%) by 2035. Greenpeace notes: “NDCs outline each country’s specific emissions reduction goals, forming the backbone of global climate efforts.”
The Ministry of Environment emphasized that global climate action remains robust, even after the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2021. Taiwan continues to pursue its climate objectives, alongside 19 other nations that have submitted updated NDC targets.
To further reduce emissions, the ministry will focus on decarbonizing high-emission sectors such as technology, steel, cement, and petrochemicals. Strategies include adopting carbon capture technologies, expanding electrification, and using alternative fuels. The ministry will collaborate with the National Science and Technology Council to promote energy-efficient processes, advance low-carbon technologies, and develop digital transformation zones and industry clusters.
Additionally, the ministry will partner with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Financial Supervisory Commission to establish platforms for resource integration and public-private collaboration. The ministry will also work with the FSC to support green finance initiatives, including green credit systems and green bond markets.
Taiwan’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act regulates seven greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
