TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's carbon emissions are projected to fall by nearly 9% from 2005 levels in 2025, just shy of the government's 10% reduction target, Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) said Wednesday.
Peng said the goal of reaching carbon reduction targets is difficult, even more so given Taiwan's robust economic growth in the first quarter, as many businesses are expanding. Despite this, he says the nation remains on track toward the longer-term target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 30% by 2030, per CNA.
Peng also announced that Taiwan has collected nearly NT$5 billion (US$159 million) in its first round of carbon emission fees. He said NT$2 billion will go to support further carbon reduction efforts by businesses and local governments.
According to a ministry report, Taiwan's net greenhouse gas emissions totaled 251.4 million metric tonnes in 2024, down 6.59% from the 2005 baseline year and 1.92% from 2023. The ministry said Taiwan's progress contrasts with global trends, as a United Nations report noted worldwide emissions rose 2.3% in 2024 compared with the previous year.
Taiwan's energy sector remained the largest source of emissions in 2024, followed by industrial processes, agriculture, and waste. Energy-sector emissions fell 2.07% from 2023 and 1.07% from 2005, marking the first time emissions from the sector have dropped below baseline-year levels since emissions tracking began, per CNA.
Peng said Taiwan's 2030 emissions-reduction target requires cutting emissions by roughly 20% over the next five years, representing an average annual reduction of about 4%. He cautioned that Taiwan's GDP growth of 13.6% in the first quarter was an unusually strong economic performance, which could complicate emissions-reduction efforts.
While strong economic growth may increase carbon fee revenues and encourage investment in emissions reductions, Peng said factory expansion and higher production levels could also lead to greater electricity consumption and increased emissions. Despite these challenges, Peng said Taiwan needed to continue working hard in the pursuit of carbon emissions goals.
