Taoyuan City Government's Municipal Council today (May 8th) passed the draft of the "Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance" during its scheduled legislative session, marking a significant step towards institutionalizing governance for achieving carbon neutrality.
Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng emphasized that achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is a shared consensus among the people. To meet this goal, other special municipalities in Taiwan have enacted relevant legislation. Therefore, shortly after taking office, Mayor Chang instructed the Taoyuan Department of Environmental Protection (TYDEP) to actively draft strategies for industrial transformation, green transportation, renewable energy development, and other initiatives. To this end, the draft "Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance" was formulated in less than a year. The content includes five main pillars: industry and energy, urban and architectural development, transportation systems, education and lifestyle, and climate change adaptation. Relevant departments are entrusted with responsibilities, and various net zero policies are legalized in terms of timelines, outlining the direction for transformation and aiming to achieve the policy objectives.
With a population exceeding 2.3 million, Taoyuan experiences an annual population growth of around 30,000, equating to a growth rate of 1.32%. It boasts the highest number of industrial facilities nationwide, with industrial output surpassing NT$4 trillion, leading the nation as a thriving city. Mayor Chang noted that as a key commercial and industrial hub in northern Taiwan, Taoyuan ranks highest in greenhouse gas emissions in the region, presenting significant challenges in advancing efforts toward achieving net zero emissions. Since 2023, the city government has been pioneering inter-agency net zero meetings every two months to review the implementation of various net zero initiatives. However, due to the lack of institutionalized legal frameworks and tools, there have been certain challenges in execution. With the passage of the Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance, in the future, the city government will be provided with regulatory tools to further implement net zero policies.
Mayor Chang emphasized that in formulating the ordinance, it was crucial to gather not only domestic and international regulatory data but also conduct a thorough analysis of the context and constraints of relevant ordinances in other counties and cities across Taiwan. This comprehensive approach aimed to rectify the deficiencies in the Climate Change Response Act. Additionally, numerous interdepartmental meetings have been convened within the municipal government to discuss the implementation strategies of net zero policies. Experts and scholars from various fields have been invited to provide input on the ordinance, tailored specifically for Taoyuan. The aim is to expedite the deliberation and passage of the Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance, laying a solid foundation for Taoyuan's transition to becoming a net zero city.
The "Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance" consists of 8 chapters and 62 articles. Key points include: for the industry and energy sector: The ordinance mandates the implementation of supportive measures between the city's industries and energy sectors. It regulates public agencies, major electricity consumers, and newly established industrial zones to enhance green energy practices, improve waste and wastewater management, and promote energy conservation. Additionally, it encourages circular economy initiatives and provides incentives and subsidies to facilitate their adoption. Last year, Taoyuan City further joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), accelerating the implementation of coal removal among major carbon emitters domestically.
Urban and architectural aspects: Actively incorporate carbon reduction concepts from urban planning, prioritizing energy-efficient buildings. This includes the incorporation of net zero city and energy-efficient building design concepts into the city's public land use plans, regional plans, and redevelopment zones. By 2024, the Office of Building Administration of the Taoyuan City Government will complete energy efficiency assessments for public existing buildings with a value exceeding NT$50 million, setting an example for future improvements in building efficiency.
Transportation and logistics: in addition to launching TPASS, which connects the Taipei and Taoyuan metropolitan areas, the city government will increase public transportation capacity to reduce the use of gas-powered vehicles. By 2030, all buses operating in urban areas and government vehicles will be fully electrified, creating a friendly environment for electric vehicles. In the future, the city government can establish low-carbon transportation zones to restrict access to highly polluting vehicles.
Education and lifestyle aspect: increase environmental education promotion and activities to enhance public carbon reduction awareness, including fostering carbon reduction behaviors into daily consumption, promoting waste reduction, and driving the development of zero-carbon agriculture. According to the registrations on the Carbon Neutrality Platform's low-carbon activity guide, 30 events organized by municipal departments and agencies have been registered, resulting in a reduction of 1,920 tCO2e. In the future, municipal agencies will be required to incorporate relevant carbon reduction measures when organizing events.
For climate change adaptation: Conduct climate change adaptation risk assessments for the city, carry out monitoring, research, and investigation work, and enhance climate change adaptation measures to strengthen the city's resilience to climate change.
In the future, with the implementation of the Taoyuan City Net Zero City Self-Government Ordinance, municipal agencies will fully carry out the provisions of the ordinance and vigorously promote the net-zero transition of the city. By advancing towards the policy goals of net zero urban development, it is hoped that Taoyuan City will become a renowned benchmark net zero city both domestically and internationally.