TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced more ambitious climate goals on Thursday.
Speaking at the third meeting of the National Climate Change Committee, Lai said Taiwan will target a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 2005), up from the previous 24% target. According to a Presidential Office release, he said Taiwan’s new carbon reduction target is 32% by 2032 and 38% by 2035 (compared to 2005).
All targets are expected to be achieved within 2% of those figures. “We must take action domestically for the 2032 target, strive to align with the international carbon reduction process for the 2035 target, and contribute to global climate governance,” Lai said.

Lai said events like the Los Angeles wildfires and extreme weather globally highlight the need for a more aggressive approach. He noted the World Meteorological Organization’s finding that at year was the hottest on record and that average temperatures exceeded 1.5 C over pre-industrial levels for the first time.
A 2018 IPCC report noted that limiting global warming to below 1.5 C would decrease the likelihood of heavy rain events in East Asia and other areas. It said exposure to multiple climate-related hazards is expected to increase for people in Asia and Africa when warming increases above 1.5 C.
Lai said the Cabinet’s climate change committee has reviewed “bottom-up” plans to reduce carbon emissions proposed by different ministries. He said it found these efforts were not enough, and “top-down” initiatives led by the Cabinet have been proposed to supplement them.

They will include technological innovation, financial support, and carbon pricing initiatives, Lai said. He said this will “drive transformation in all aspects of life” including education, as the education and environment ministries have been asked to create plans to promote sustainability.
After Lai's speech, the committee heard from the environment, development, transport, economic, and interior ministries' leaders on climate change efforts. Lai co-convenes the committee with Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君), Academia Sinica President James C. Liao (廖俊智), and Pegatron Corporation Chair Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢).
The committee is one of three Lai promised while campaigning for president, alongside committees targeting health and defense. It convened for its first and second meetings in August and October, to discuss energy conservation, nuclear power, cooperation with China, and other topics.