Due to the increasing focus on environmental issues and renewable energy, the Legislative Yuan has passed “Energy Tax Regulations,” “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act” and “Renewable Energy Development Law,” aiming to enhance environmental awareness in Taiwan.
Taiwan is inglorious for its environmental issues: Taiwan’s CO2 emission, which has increased 5.4% from 1990 to 2007, is three times the world average. The total emission in 2006 reached 3 million metric tons, ranking 23rd in the world, with an average of 13.9 metric tons per person.
In 2009 National Energy Meeting, it is suggested that the government should take following measures: 1. Expand public transit. 2. Develop carpool program. 3. Levy energy tax on private car ownership. 4. Implement the adjustment of industrial structure. 5. Enforce energy saving plans and optimize energy efficiency. The target is to decrease energy consumption by at least 2% per year before 2020. In addition, energy technology and renewable energy development is another path to energy conservation: it is expected that excluding hydroelectricity, the output of renewable energy in gross electric output will reach 4% by 2012 and 18% by 2020.
Environmental Protection Administration plans to popularize Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cars by subsidizing LPG car purchase, aiming to have 150 thousand LPG cars in Taiwan within five years. Furthermore, Environmental Protection Administration will be making efforts in popularizing other green vehicles such as hybrid cars and bicycles, and accelerate the pace of renewable energy development.