TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Transportation Deputy Minister Chen Yan-po (陳彥伯) said Thursday that Taiwan will boost public transport to reduce carbon emissions.

The ministry said the initiatives will include building sidewalks and bicycle lanes, upgrading the public transportation system, and promoting greater use of public transport. These initiatives are expected to reduce carbon emissions 20% by 2030, per CNA.

To encourage the use of public transport, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched the TPASS monthly pass in June 2023. On Jan. 14, TPASS 2.0 was introduced to offer up to 30% off for passengers using public transit 31 or more times a month.

Chen added that electric vehicles are also a key part of the carbon reduction plan, with all buses and government vehicles set to go electric by 2030. He also aims for all private cars and scooters to be electric by 2040.

Taxis are expected to be 50% electric by 2030 and 75% by 2035, Chen said. Additionally, electric trucks are set to reach 5% by 2030 and 20% by 2035.

The ministry added that 9,770 public charging stations operate across Taiwan. Around 34,625 public charging stations will be installed by 2030, with the number expected to reach 95,425 by 2035.

According to a study released by the Climate Change Administration last year, the transportation sector emitted 36.28 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2022, accounting for 12.69% of the country's emissions. The majority of these emissions came from road transport.