In order to align with the global 2050 net zero target, the Taoyuan City Government held the “Taoyuan 2050 Net Zero Carbon Emissions Reduction Conference: Taoyuan Race To Zero” today (29), presided over by Mayor Chang San Cheng to jointly announce the 2050 net zero emissions goal and strategic direction of Taoyuan, as well as the city’s 50% reduction target by 2030. The event also invited all key enterprises in the city to collaborate with industry and government to support the United Nations' net-zero emissions target.
According to the Taoyuan City Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP), the net zero goal originated from the COP 26 (26th United Nations Climate Change Conference) commitment. Taiwan is also actively aligning with this global trend, and in February this year, announced the amendment of the Climate Change Response Act to lead all counties and cities to work together towards the 2050 net-zero emissions target and implement climate change mitigation and adaptation operations. Due to its industry structure, the carbon emission structure of Taoyuan is dominated by industry, and the industrial output value of nearly NT$3 trillion ranks the city the first in Taiwan, but the ensuing carbon reduction challenge is even more serious, noted Mayor Chang San-Cheng. Since taking office, he has actively spearheaded efforts to achieve the goal of net zero, re-evaluate and review the net zero path through science-based targets, and during today's event even personally explained Taoyuan's implementation priorities.
The first priority of Taoyuan City is to transform the industry from high carbon emission fuels to clean fuels. This year, the city will join the Powering Past Coal Alliance to phase out the demand for coal, and propose alternatives to solid renewable fuels (SRF, wood pellets, etc.), natural gas or electricity. The second step is to realize the city’s green transportation policy, with the recently launched “30KM Happy Mileage Public Transportation”, as well as the promotion of the monthly commuter pass of NT$1200 that allows for commute in Keelung/Taipei/New Taipei/Taoyuan and Taoyuan/Hsinchu City/Hsinchu County/Miaoli. These initiatives are expected to enhance the utilization rate of public transportation. In addition, the city has set clear implementation targets for the electrification of transportation, including: full electrification of urban buses in 2030, 100% electrification of official-use vehicles of government agencies and schools, 30% electrification of new car sales and 40% electrification of new motorcycle/scooter sales.
The third step is based on the national energy stability, continuous development of renewable energy, complemented by subsidies for energy storage equipment to stabilize the supply and demand of green energy and maintain the leading position of Taoyuan with the most installed capacity of photovoltaic facilities in northern Taiwan and Taoyuan. In addition, the city shall also provide more assistance to local industry by assisting the industry with green chemical plants and industry advisory groups to conduct greenhouse gas inventories, improve energy conservation, and introduce smart energy management systems so that the industry can gradually achieve net-zero transition. The “Taoyuan 2050 Net Zero Carbon Emissions Reduction Conference: Taoyuan Race To Zero” invited enterprises to work with Taoyuan City to jointly respond to the 2050 Taoyuan Race To Zero Initiative. Net-zero is not only focused on the city's efforts to achieve the target, but also to understand the needs of citizens and enterprises, to resonate with the public, and foster joint collaboration between the city and local enterprises.
In addition to Mayor Chang's presentation on the Zero Path, two forums were held today, in which TYDEP Director General Chen Shih-Wei and Director General Chang Cheng of the Department of Economic Development discussed with business representatives the ways to reduce carbon emissions and coexist with the economy, so that the participating companies could have a better understanding of the future plans of the Taoyuan City Government. Finally, Taoyuan City will continue to make rolling adjustments to the net-zero pathway in line with national strategy and consider the needs of enterprises, so that the development of the net-zero pathway in 2030 and 2050 can be smoother. This allows Taoyuan’s 2050 new Net Zero Pathway to become a concrete and feasible strategy and measure.
Today's event saw the attendance of Vice Mayor Su Chun-Pin; TYDEP Director General Chen Shih-Wei; Director General Chang Cheng of the Department of Economic Development; Chen Mei-Lien, Deputy CEO of IDIPC Taoyuan; Wang Ya-Chih, District Chief of Guishan District Office; Lu Hsueh-Hai, President of the Digizen Association; Hsu Shuai-Chun, Principal Consultant of the Taiwan Net Zero Academy; Feng Ming-Hui, Chair Professor of the Taiwan Net Zero Academy; Tang Ke-Hung, President of WEEE& ROHS Consultancy Co., Ltd; Liu Che-Liang, Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research, CIER; Hung Ching-He, owner of Hong Din Electric Engineering Co., Ltd; Chueh Lung-Yi, technical director of ThinkCloud Technology Co., Ltd., Hsiao Chih-Peng, Director of CTBC Bank's Institutional Banking Division, and Tsia Chia-Hung, President of TenetPower Co., Ltd.