Taiwan’s UNFCCC participation indispensable for combating climate change

2016/10/21

Environmental Protection Administration Minister Lee Ying-yuan urged international support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in two letters published this month by U.S. newspapers The Hill and The Sun.

In the letter carried Oct. 19 by Washington-based The Hill, Lee said there is only one Earth and there is only one Taiwan. “Therefore, we cannot take the issue of climate change lightly as we proactively respond to and support global initiatives.

“Climate change requires not only national but global solutions. I sincerely urge the international community to recognize and support Taiwan’s determination to gain meaningful participation in the UNFCCC and become part of the global climate network.”

According to Lee, global warming and El Nino have contributed to record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events worldwide. In July, average global temperatures over land and ocean surfaces were the highest in 137 years and, the month before, the mercury hit 38.7 C in Taipei City—a 100-year record, he said.

In addition, the frequency of steady rainfall is declining while the incidence of torrential downpours is increasing, Lee said, linking the trend to flash floods causing large-scale damage to the ecosystem, infrastructure and crops.

“More and more evidence is showing that climate change is already happening. If we don’t take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now, we will end up paying much more later on.”

Lee said President Tsai Ing-wen made it clear in her May 20 inaugural address that Taiwan is playing its part in combating climate change and the government is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in keeping with the Paris Agreement, which was concluded last December at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in France.

Set to take force Nov. 4, the agreement strengthens the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century below 2 C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 C. The agreement also aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.

Steps taken by Taiwan to join other nations around the world in tackling climate change include enacting the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act last July; lifting production of renewable energy to 20 percent of the country’s total by 2050; and establishing a specialized Cabinet-level office tasked with planning and coordinating a national energy policy, as well as promoting the rollout of newer forms of energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Taiwan is among only a few countries in the world that have written into law a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Lee said, citing a long-term target under the act of reducing emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. This undertaking is supported by five-year regulatory goals aimed at enhancing the nation’s ability to adapt to the effects of climate change and ensuring central and local government agencies minimize their carbon footprints, he added.

Lee, who largely stated the same message in the letter run Oct. 12 by Massachusetts-based The Sun, said Taiwan is willing to share its environmental protection experiences and contribute to international efforts. “Together with friendly nations, we will join hands to safeguard a sustainable Earth.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan should be included in the UNFCCC as it is an indispensable partner, has set an ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target, is ready and willing to contribute more to the conference and its participation is a matter of climate justice.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=248814&ctNode=2194&mp=9)