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WMO warns: The 1.5°C warning line may be breached! Humanity is heading towards the end of the century with a temperature rise of more than 2.5 degrees

With just 50 days left until the COP27 climate conference in Egypt, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in collaboration with several professional organizations, released the latest edition of its joint scientific report, "United in Science," in mid-September. The report states unequivocally that humanity is heading in the wrong direction. Without more ambitious carbon reduction action, the devastating impacts of climate change will become increasingly devastating! The brief "boom" of carbon reductions over the past two years due to the pandemic has now vanished. It's unstoppable! The 1.5°C warning line will be breached within five years. As the pandemic gradually recedes and society resumes normal operations, human carbon emissions appear to be resuming, even exceeding previous levels. In 2020, global anthropogenic carbon emissions fell by 5.4%. However, since last year, as countries have gradually relaxed restrictions and resumed production and trade, they have slowly returned to pre-pandemic levels. Data from the first five months of this year show that global carbon emissions were 1.2% higher than in 2019, with the largest increases in the United States (5.7%) and India (7.5%). Then came the familiar scene: countries were struck by a succession of climate disasters, from the heatwave in Europe and the devastating floods in Pakistan to the severe droughts that continue to plague China, the United States, and Africa. In May 2022, the iconic Mauna Loa station in Hawaii recorded a record-breaking atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration of 420.99 ppm!

2022-09-11

Environmental Protection Department launches waste reduction guidelines for convenience stores on outlying islands, with Orchid Island 7-11 taking the lead in minimizing packaging

During the peak tourist season, outlying islands are often reported to have a huge amount of garbage. The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday (5th) released the "Offshore Island Convenience Store Source Waste Reduction Service Design Guidelines", which guides outlying island convenience stores to reduce plastic through product repackaging and display methods based on the three principles of naked sales, large packaging, and alternative materials. Starting in June this year, the two 7-ELEVEN stores on Lanyu Island replaced the shelves full of plastic bottles and plastic containers with easily recyclable aluminum cans, naked sales products, and large family-sized packages. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that after implementation, about 1.3 tons of plastic waste can be reduced each year. 7-ELEVEN also promised that by the end of the year, 90% of its outlying island stores will adopt the guidelines and transform into green stores. Naked sales, large packaging, and alternative materials are the three principles of the offshore island waste reduction guidelines. Offshore island tourism is booming, but the islands are small and the transportation is inconvenient, making the resulting garbage difficult to handle and a long-term problem for the local area. There are more than 100 chain convenience stores on Taiwan's outlying islands, which produce a lot of plastic waste. Zhang Shaoxin, assistant environmental technician of the Recycling Management Committee of the Environmental Protection Department, said that at the beginning of this year, they had successively negotiated with 7-ELEVEN and FamilyMart to announce the "Guidelines for the Design of Source Waste Reduction Services for Convenience Stores on Outlying Islands" to provide principles for the reduction of plastics in outlying island stores. These principles include "minimum packaging", "large instead of small", and "alternative materials". Some chain supermarkets have also promised to reduce the use of plastic accordingly. For example, the two 7-ELEVEN stores on Lanyu have replaced some plastic bottles of beverages with easily recyclable aluminum cans (alternative materials); and replaced multiple small packages of food and beverages with large packages (large instead of small); and can

2022-09-06

With only an 11% market share last year, the electric locomotive industry is far from achieving its 2040 full electrification target.

According to the National Development Council's "2050 Net Zero Carbon Emissions Pathway," Taiwan expects electric motorcycles to account for 35% of all vehicles sold on the market by 2030, and all new passenger cars, including new cars, to be fully electrified by 2040. The Smart Mobility Association of Taiwan (SMAT), composed of electric motorcycle-related companies, released its "2022 Taiwan Electric Motorcycle Industry Policy Proposal" today (1st), proposing to reach 50% of the electric motorcycle target by 2030, while also encouraging local governments to set a timetable for achieving the target earlier than 2040. SMAT recommends that the government accelerate the achievement of the vehicle electrification goal through strategies such as increasing subsidy incentives, improving the environmentally friendly environment, or using policies to reward companies for choosing electric vehicles as their ESG solutions. Legislator Wang Wanyu and civil society groups also reminded that "people-oriented transportation" is the key to carbon reduction in the transportation sector, and that green public transportation should be promoted more actively. In order to achieve full electrification of new motorcycles sold by 2040, the industry calls for strengthening mid-term goals. The National Development Council announced Taiwan’s "2050 Net Zero Carbon Emission Path" in March this year. In terms of the transportation sector, the transportation sector’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were approximately 36.99 million metric tons of CO2e, accounting for 12.8% of the country. Its emissions mainly came from road transportation, accounting for about 96.8%. It can be seen that promoting low-carbon or zero-carbon road vehicles is the primary path to net-zero transportation emissions. The current international trend is to replace traditional fuel vehicles with electric vehicles, so "vehicle electrification" has also been specifically included in the net-zero strategy. The National Development Council plans to achieve the goal of electric vehicles by 2030.

2022-09-01

Scientists develop new resin that can be made into wind turbine blades and then recycled into gummy bears

The globally popular, chewy gummy bears are a childhood memory for many adults. Can you imagine? One day, gummy bears could be made from recycled wind turbine blades. American scientists are developing a new composite resin that can be recycled into gummy bears after wind turbine blades reach their end of life. To achieve carbon neutrality, many countries are vigorously promoting renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics. However, wind blade recycling is a challenge. Current wind turbine blades are mostly made of fiberglass. Older models can be as long as half a football field, while newer 15MW turbine blades are longer than a 100-meter runway. Blade recycling is difficult, so retired wind turbine blades are often crushed and landfilled. To make wind power more environmentally friendly, researchers at Michigan State University have created a new composite resin using fiberglass, plant-derived polymers, and synthetic polymers to make wind turbine blades. These special blades can be recycled, broken down, and remade into wind blades, as well as other products—such as chewy gummy bears. The research team presented their findings at the American Chemical Society meeting on the 23rd. The Guardian reported, "We recycle food-grade potassium lactate and use it to make gummy bears, which I also eat myself." Report author John Dorgan said. Dorgan explained that the carbon atoms from corn or grass are no different from the carbon atoms from fossil fuels. They are all part of the global carbon cycle. We have proved that biomass in the field can be made into plastics and then recycled into food.

2022-08-29

New Taipei City releases 2050 Net Zero White Paper, aiming to become a coal-free city next year and reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030

The New Taipei City Government released the "New Taipei City 2050 Net Zero Path and Climate Action White Paper" yesterday (24th), and proposed the draft "New Taipei City Climate Change Response Action Autonomous Regulations", which will invest NT$20 billion annually in the four major areas of "energy transformation efficiency improvement", "smart transportation", "circular economy", and "resilience adaptation", including community low-carbon transformation, the construction of geothermal power generation demonstration areas and the promotion of solar photovoltaic citizen power plants, the prohibition of providing disposable items in 2030 and the full electrification of official cars and motorcycles in 2035. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 30% (13.37 million tons) in 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emissions in 2050. Residential and commercial sectors have become the largest source of carbon emissions! New Taipei City pioneered the community "Energy Saving Clinic" and promoted household energy management systems. The "New Taipei City 2050 Net Zero Path and Climate Action White Paper" covers different departments such as residential and commercial, environment, industry, energy, and transportation, and is expected to invest NT$20 billion annually to implement carbon reduction strategies. At the same time, the draft of the "New Taipei City Climate Change Response Action Autonomous Ordinance" is being drafted to establish a legal basis for various carbon reduction measures in construction, commerce, industry, and transportation. At the same time, the "New Taipei Climate Fund" will also be established to use the carbon fees collected in the future for energy transformation work in schools, households or groups, including equipment energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations. According to statistics, New Taipei City's net greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 were 17.84 million metric tons, a decrease of about 6.7% from the base year (2005), and per capita carbon emissions decreased by 13.5%. Among them, emissions accounted for 39.41% of the residential and commercial sectors, and the industrial sector accounted for 2.

2022-08-25

Salad Rescue: Otaku Uses Rocketry and Thermodynamics to Create the Incredible "Food Diaper"

Every day, more than a third of the world's food goes uneaten into the trash. Food waste accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions, three times that of the aviation industry. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest carbon emitter. To save the dying salad in his lunchbox, Bill Birgen, a California aerospace engineer, in his spare time from inventing jets and rockets, invented a "food diaper," accidentally saving millions of tons of food waste and the energy, water, and resources needed to produce it. He admits that his biggest fear is opening his lunchbox and seeing rotten spinach. "Spinach leaves are very delicate. They get damaged when they get wet. Not only do they get soggy, but they also become limp, even slimy, and completely inedible," Birgen told The Spoon, an American food technology media outlet. The "food diaper" that saved the dying lunch salad "He looked at his lunch and said, 'My lunch is terrible - I have to do something,' and he sat down and made some prototypes," recalled Grant Stafford, co-CEO of SAVRpak and Bergen's entrepreneurial partner. This "diaper" in the true sense looks like the desiccant commonly found in cookies, but without any chemicals. It is made of paper pulp on the outside and ice inside, with food-grade adhesive. When in use, tear off the adhesive backing and stick it in a lunch box, takeout box or food packaging. It feels cool to the touch. The secret is "thermodynamics." The salad will look dying, the fries will become soft, and the rice will become mushy. The number one culprit is water vapor. After cooking

2022-08-24

Environmental group statistics: 2021's top 20 carbon-emitting companies, 19 of which are green power companies, account for less than 1%

The Large Electricity User Clause, which has been in effect for nearly two years, requires companies with contracted capacity of 5,000 kilowatts (kW) or more to fulfill their obligation to use 10% green electricity within five years. With the review deadline approaching, the Taiwan Renewable Energy Alliance (TRENA) released its 2021 annual statistics on the 19th, showing that among the top 20 carbon-emitting companies in Taiwan, TSMC, which has the highest percentage of green electricity use, only accounts for 4% of its electricity consumption, while the remaining 19 companies use less than 1%. These 20 companies account for 44.6% of Taiwan's total carbon emissions. TRENA is urging companies to actively improve and hopes the government will tighten requirements for large electricity users. Legislators have also called on the executive branch to expedite the release of draft amendments to the three energy laws to align with the country's net zero goal and build a more comprehensive green electricity supply and demand system. Large carbon emitters only use a small amount of green electricity, and only TSMC accounts for more than 1%. According to the Taiwan Renewable Energy Promotion Alliance, among the top 20 domestic carbon emitters in 2021, only a few companies have built renewable energy for their own use. Among them, TSMC has the highest proportion of green electricity, with a usage of more than 4%, while other companies' green electricity accounts for less than 1%. Looking at the data, the second highest is Sinopec at about 0.87%, and the third-ranked CPC Taiwan is about 0.14%. Further review of the report submitted by TRENA, its data source is the ESG reports disclosed by various companies. Due to the different levels of information disclosure of each company, the calculation methods are slightly different. For example, TSMC only announced that its global electricity consumption is about 16 billion kWh, and the conversion of 660 million kWh of green electricity used in Taiwan resulted in a data of 4.11%, which is different from the data of TSMC.

2022-08-22

Green Island's six-month trial of recycling cup rentals continues to challenge waste management on outlying islands

With the pandemic easing and domestic tourism resuming, Lanyu and Green Island have seen an influx of tourists, but this has also brought with it a significant amount of waste, leaving island landfills piled high. Due to the high cost of transporting waste back to Taiwan, the Taitung County Environmental Protection Bureau has diligently cleared and hauled away waste from these islands, but this only addresses the symptoms rather than the root cause. The Bureau urges visitors to these islands to reduce their use of disposable items and reduce waste at the source. Green Island launched a free, recyclable cup rental service this year, a pilot program that lasted nearly six months. Many businesses on the island have also stepped up to offer lunch box rentals, encouraging visitors to practice environmentally friendly, "waste-free" tourism. The hope is that visitors to Green Island will leave behind memories, not waste. Disposal efforts across seas and mountains have left island landfills near capacity. During peak tourist season, thousands of people flock to the islands daily, bringing both business opportunities and waste. Disposable toiletries, disposable tableware, plastic bags, and beverage cups used by tourists place a significant burden on the islands. In the past, Taitung County did not have an incinerator, so the garbage from Orchid Island and Green Island had to be shipped across the sea to Taitung, and then transferred and detoured halfway across Taiwan to other counties and cities such as Pingtung and Kaohsiung for processing. The transportation costs were very high, which resulted in frequent failures in waste transfer contracts, and a large amount of waste had to be temporarily placed in the island landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Administration's landfill information system, the total capacity of the Orchid Island landfill is about 39,000 cubic meters, but currently only 41 cubic meters remain, and the garbage is almost full; the total capacity of the Green Island landfill is 54,000 cubic meters, but currently less than 20% of the space is left. A large amount of waste has piled up a garbage mountain on the beautiful island. This year, the Taitung incinerator was officially put into use, and the first task was to solve the two problems of leaving

2022-08-19

The Netherlands is implementing a new approach to reducing marine plastic pollution: bubble barriers at river mouths

Katwijk is a small coastal town in the Netherlands, where the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) flows into the North Sea. Five years ago, Claar-els van Delft noticed plastic litter on the beach and began collecting it. "There's all sorts of plastic litter near the river mouth—everything from tampon tubes and brush bristles to potato chip bags and beverage packaging," said van Delft, co-founder of the local organization Coast Busters. He believes the litter isn't discarded by tourists or drifting into the sea, but rather comes from the nearby estuary. In 2018, the local community launched a campaign to prevent marine plastics, gaining support from neighboring governments and residents, as well as commercial sponsorship. In July 2022, Katwijk successfully completed its first community-led bubble barrier, using bubbles and water flow to intercept trash in the river. It was also the first bubble barrier to be installed within one kilometer of a river's entrance to the sea, effectively serving as a last line of defense against waste reaching the sea. Bubble Push - River garbage is concentrated without affecting shipping. Bubble wall is not a new technology. In the past, it was used to reduce the spread of oil pollution from oil spills at sea, and the offshore wind power industry also used it to reduce engineering noise. This time, bubble wall is used to collect marine garbage. "A pipe with holes is set at the bottom of the river, and compressed air is sent into the pipe, which will produce bubbles. As the bubbles rise, they push the plastic fragments to the surface, and coupled with the water flow,

2022-08-18

Venice's new tax to take effect in 2023 as extreme weather forces the city to transform

Venice, with its renowned canals and rich architectural, historical, and cultural heritage, was once a major hub for international trade, earning it the nicknames "Queen of the Adriatic," "Floating City," and "City of Bridges." This fame attracts numerous tourists from around the world, but it also places immense pressure on this exquisite historic city. To curb visitor numbers, the Venetian government has decided to impose a new tax, hoping to help guide the city towards more sustainable tourism. Day trippers arriving and departing on the same day will be most affected. Starting in 2023, visitors will be required to book and pay in advance through a dedicated app. The fee is expected to be €3 in the off-season and up to €10 in the peak season. Guests who already have overnight accommodations in Venice will not be charged this fee. This is because Venice has already levied a city tax of several euros on overnight guests since 2011. Many European countries have similar tourist taxes, but they are often included in hotel or airfare prices, making them less noticeable. Additionally, Venetian residents, students, and commuters are exempt from the new tourist tax. Visitors visiting relatives or attending funerals are also exempt from the fee. Rejecting "fast-food" tourists and shifting toward sustainable tourism: With the rise of sustainability awareness, more and more cities are seeking to prioritize quality over quantity in tourism. Authorities are increasingly realizing that large numbers of tourists who simply drop by, take selfies, and then leave are doing more harm than good to the city. They hope to attract more in-depth travelers who truly care about the city and are willing to spend time learning about local history and culture.

2022-08-16

Congress passes the largest climate spending bill in U.S. history

Last Friday (12th), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act, a major healthcare and climate initiative, by a vote of 220 to 207. President Joe Biden immediately declared it a victory for the American people. The Inflation Reduction Act includes the largest climate change investment in U.S. history, with approximately $370 billion to reduce carbon emissions and promote green technologies. Experts estimate that the bill will help reduce U.S. carbon emissions by approximately 40% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. The bill also provides $64 billion to alleviate healthcare issues. A scaled-down version of the Build Back Better Act, the largest climate spending in U.S. history, has finally passed. Biden proposed the "Build Back Better" plan during his campaign and introduced the Build Back Better Act in 2021. However, the bill failed to gain support from key lawmakers and was subsequently amended and renamed the "Inflation Reduction Act." The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act on the 7th, and after the House of Representatives passed it on the 12th, it will take effect this week after Biden signs it. The Inflation Reduction Act will impose a 15% minimum tax on companies with profits exceeding $1 billion and a 1% tax on treasury stock. It is expected to increase tax revenue by $740 billion over 10 years, with $300 billion going to reduce the federal deficit and the rest to climate and health care spending.

2022-08-15

Subscribing to "Carbon Credits" to Support Public Welfare: Social Welfare Organization Replaces Old Lighting, Becoming Taiwan's First Public Welfare Carbon Credit Project

Carbon reduction for public welfare has become a concrete practice. Taiwan's first public welfare carbon credit project, through donations to help the Taoyuan Spinal Cord Injury Potential Development Center replace high-energy-consuming lamps, obtained 180 tons of carbon credits, and then provided B-type enterprise Green Vine Vitality with subscriptions at NT$2,000 per ton. The carbon reduction income returned to public welfare, and social welfare groups can save NT$1.3 million in electricity bills each year. Assisting social welfare organizations to replace old lamps. Taiwan's first public welfare carbon credit was born. Taiwan's first public welfare carbon credit was jointly initiated by Sunshine Volts and Citibank (Taiwan). By helping the Taoyuan Spinal Cord Potential Development Center replace old lamps, it obtained a "carbon credit" with reduced emissions. Executive Yuan Energy and Carbon Reduction Office Deputy Executive Director Lin Zilun, National Development Council Vice Chairman Shi Kehe, and Environmental Protection Administration Executive Deputy Director Shen Zhixiu also attended the press conference yesterday (9) to witness Taiwan's first public welfare carbon credit. Regarding the public welfare carbon rights model, Chen Huiping, founder of Sunvolt and chairman of the Taiwan Green Energy Public Welfare Development Association, explained that companies help social welfare groups replace energy-consuming equipment or install renewable energy through donations, and then undergo carbon inventory and have the Environmental Protection Administration assess the carbon rights exchange quota, and confirm the specific carbon reduction benefits in units of ten years. For example, this project has accumulated 180 tons in ten years, which is equivalent to the carbon reduction of 1,500 trees per year. This "public welfare carbon right" was then sold by the Taiwan Green Energy Public Welfare Association to Green Vine Life Science at NT$2,000 per ton. It not only helps Green Vine Life Science achieve its carbon reduction goals, but also saves NT$1.3 million in electricity bills for the Taoyuan Spinal Potential Development Center. Practicing "Fair Transition" National Development Council

2022-08-10

What are forest carbon sinks? How to convert carbon sinks into "carbon credits" and the application process are all explained.

In recent years, the issue of forest carbon sequestration has received much attention. In the National Development Council's 2050 net-zero pathway plan, carbon emissions that are difficult to reduce through various means will be offset by carbon sequestration, with "forest carbon sequestration" being one of the options. The importance of carbon sequestration has also highlighted opportunities for forest conservation. But what exactly is carbon sequestration? At the end of last month, the Earth Citizen Foundation held a lecture titled "How Much Forest Carbon Sequestration Can Planting Trees Increase in Taiwan?" Professor Chang Shih-chieh of the College of Environment at National Dong Hwa University used a household income and expenditure analogy: "Carbon sequestration is how much net money a family can earn in a year." Can forest carbon sequestration remain constant indefinitely? How does carbon sequestration translate into carbon credits and operate in the carbon credit exchange market? How can the problem of "cutting down large trees and planting small ones" be avoided? Scholars gathered to clarify the future development of forest carbon credits in Taiwan. No Guarantee of Stable Growth! Research: Amazon Rainforest's Carbon Sequestration Capacity May Reach Zero by 2035. Once the carbon sequestration of a certain forest is calculated, does it mean that its carbon sequestration capacity will never change? Zhang Shijie also cautioned that the carbon sequestration capacity of mature forests weakens, and that "our forests ultimately only have a limited carbon sequestration capacity." Using the Amazon rainforest as an example, Zhang cited studies measuring plant carbon stock in 1985, 2000, and 2015. While the overall carbon stock showed an upward trend, comparing the annual increase in plant carbon stock over two 15-year periods revealed a decline in the rate of increase. In other words, the Amazon rainforest's carbon sequestration capacity is decreasing year by year. The study further speculated that by 2035, the Amazon rainforest's carbon sequestration capacity might reach its limit.

2022-08-05

New air conditioning efficiency regulations take effect in 2025, saving an estimated 7.11 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is accelerating the phase-out of fixed-frequency air conditioners and recently announced an increase in the "Permissible Energy Consumption Standard" (MEPS) for air conditioners, which is expected to take effect in January 2025. The Bureau of Energy estimates that once the new energy standard is implemented, it will save approximately 7.118 million kWh of electricity annually, saving NT$20.22 million in electricity bills. The Bureau of Energy also reminds the public that when purchasing air conditioners, in addition to choosing inverter models, they can also identify first-class energy-efficiency products and compare the CSPF value on the rating label; the higher the value, the more energy-efficient they are. The Bureau of Energy raises the energy efficiency standard for air conditioners and phases out energy-consuming fixed-frequency air conditioners. With the recent high temperatures across Taiwan, staying indoors and turning on the air conditioner is the preferred way for many people to escape the heat. However, among all electrical appliances, air conditioners actually consume the most electricity. According to the Industrial Technology Research Institute's 2021 "Household Electricity Consumption Habits Survey", the largest proportion of household electricity consumption is air conditioners (29.46%), followed by refrigerators (11.98%) and lighting (9.92%); in the summer months, nearly half of household electricity consumption comes from air conditioners (49.25%). According to statistics from the Bureau of Energy, in 2021, residential electricity consumption accounted for approximately 18% of national electricity consumption. In order to reduce electricity consumption in the residential sector, the Bureau of Energy announced that it will increase the MEPS of "ductless air conditioners" (commonly known as air conditioners) in 2025, guide the industry to launch more efficient products, and promote the withdrawal of high-energy-consuming fixed-frequency air conditioners. The energy efficiency of air conditioners depends on the CSPF value. The energy benchmark has been raised by 3~5%. Since 2017, the indicator for determining the energy efficiency of air conditioners has been changed from the original "energy efficiency ratio" (EER) to the inclusion of non-

2022-07-26

Heatwave hits Europe, prompting atmospheric monitoring warnings of worsening ozone and PM2.5 air pollution levels.

Reuters reports that recent record-breaking temperatures and wildfires ravaging the UK, France, and southern Europe have also worsened air pollution. In addition to the heatwave's interaction with greenhouse gases, which has increased ozone pollution, wildfires have also increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). New research shows that the combination of extreme heat and PM2.5 is more harmful to humans. Heatwaves accelerate ozone production. Atmospheric monitoring warns: Air pollution from southern Europe is spreading northward. Scientists from the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) warned on the 19th that rising ozone pollution in southern and western Europe may soon affect northwestern regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) standard for ozone is an eight-hour average of less than 100 micrograms per cubic meter. However, daily concentrations in southeast England, northern France, and the Benelux region are currently exceeding 120 micrograms. Ozone pollution is produced when heat and sunlight interact with greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds released during fossil fuel combustion. "The air quality issues associated with this heatwave cannot be ignored," said Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at CAMS. Ozone production accelerates during heatwaves because these chemical reactions occur more quickly. Scientists say ozone pollution is increasing under climate change, and not only are global temperatures about 1.2 million tons higher than pre-industrial levels, but the global average temperature is also rising.

2022-07-22

Can climate change damages be compensated? US study: Five major carbon-emitting countries cause global losses of $6 trillion

In recent years, smaller and poorer countries have been pushing for the concept of "loss and damage" funding at international climate summits. They argue that wealthy nations, which industrialized earlier and have historically emitted more carbon, should shoulder the financial losses suffered by countries on the front lines of climate change. However, wealthy nations are generally reluctant to accept this idea. How much responsibility should countries with a history of significant carbon emissions bear? Scientists at Dartmouth College in the United States published a new study on the 12th analyzing the impact of major carbon emitters on the economies of other countries. The results found that the five largest carbon emitters, the United States, China, and China, have collectively caused nearly $6 trillion in global losses. The authors believe this research can serve as a scientific basis for climate liability compensation. According to the study, published in the journal Climatic Change, rising temperatures can lead to reduced crop, labor, or industrial production, which in turn affects economic activity. The study assessed each country's greenhouse gas emissions since 1850 and its contribution to climate change to calculate the economic losses caused by each country's carbon emissions. According to a study published by the Associated Press, U.S. carbon emissions between 1990 and 2014 caused over $1.9 trillion in damages, with Venezuela, Brazil, Indonesia, and India each experiencing over $100 billion in damages. Besides the U.S., the top five emitters included China ($1.8 trillion), Russia ($1 trillion), India ($0.8 trillion), and Brazil ($0.5 trillion), collectively causing $6 trillion in global damages.

2022-07-22

The Taiwan Wind Power Industry Development Association was established, and the local supply chain is eyeing key domestic generator technologies.

The Taiwan Wind Power Industry Development Association held its inaugural meeting yesterday (19th). Founding members include more than 40 domestic companies such as Century Wind Power, Hsin Kong Steel, Walsin Lihua, Senwei Energy, Huacheng Electric, and Shihlin Electric. Lai Wen-hsiang, chairman of Century Wind Power, who serves as the chairman, said that a wind turbine has hundreds of parts from top to bottom, and currently most of the localization projects are just assembly. The association's goal is to improve the local supply chain, from small screws to large generators, all of which must be produced by ourselves. Connecting the local wind power supply chain, the goal is "all made in Taiwan from top to bottom" In order to strengthen the domestic wind power supply chain capabilities, relevant companies formed the Taiwan Wind Power Industry Development Association and held its inaugural meeting and the first board of directors and supervisors on the 19th. The first chairman of the association was elected by Lai Wen-hsiang, chairman of Century Wind Power. Lai Wen-hsiang said that a wind turbine has hundreds of components, and the current localization policy is mostly just assembly work. Important components such as generators rarely use domestic parts, which is not helpful to the local industry. The association's goal is to connect the domestic supply chain, "from a screw to a generator", all produced in Taiwan. Lai Wen-hsiang also mentioned that the number of wind farms will increase exponentially in the future. Once the local supply chain is established, it will also be possible to attract foreign generator manufacturers to set up factories in Taiwan and introduce key motor technologies. In his speech, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Quan-neng stated that the domestic wind power industry does need to establish localized production capacity, and organizing the association is like preparing to "carry out the energy of tomorrow." In the future, the central government will continue to cooperate across ministries and local governments to help the industry supply chain consolidate the upper and middle

2022-07-20

E.Sun Financial Holdings pledges to join RE100, becoming the first financial industry "low electricity user" to be approved.

E.Sun Financial Holdings announced on the 19th that it had become a full member of the international renewable energy initiative "RE100," pledging to achieve 100% renewable energy across all its locations by 2040. It's worth noting that E.Sun Financial Holdings' annual electricity consumption is approximately 44,000 MWh (megawatt-hours), which doesn't meet the current RE100 membership threshold of 100,000 MWh. Ultimately, it was only through special regulations regarding financial influence that E.Sun Financial Holdings joined RE100, pledging to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040. RE100 is a global renewable energy initiative led by The Climate Group and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Members are required to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050. Many internationally renowned companies have joined to support the carbon reduction movement. On the 19th, E.Sun Financial Holdings officially became a member of RE100, becoming the first financial institution in Taiwan to be approved to join as a "low-power enterprise." It has pledged to achieve 100% renewable energy use in its domestic and overseas operations by 2040, with a mid-term goal of achieving 80% by 2030. To this end, in addition to replacing energy-consuming air conditioners and lighting fixtures to reduce carbon emissions, E.Sun Financial Holdings will also adopt channels such as self-built solar power generation equipment and signing power purchase agreements to use renewable energy. As of the end of last year (2021), rooftop solar photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of approximately 159 kilowatts (KW) had been installed at the site, and the first green electricity transfer was completed in 2021, which is equivalent to 18% of the annual electricity consumption. E.Sun Financial Holdings' Perpetual Long-Term Total

2022-07-20

A cross-sector symposium on "Nature-Based" Climate Change Adaptation: Hopes Ecosystems and Engineers Will Join Forces

In recent years, the international community has frequently advocated for "Nature-based Solutions" (NbS), emphasizing that natural ecosystems can help achieve important goals such as climate change adaptation and net-zero carbon emissions. However, relevant policies and regulations are lacking in Taiwan. The currently implemented similar concept, "ecological checklists," has been hindered by cross-sector communication barriers and ineffectiveness, hindering the development of comprehensive planning. On the 16th, ecological groups including the Taiwan River Network invited industry, government, academia, and legislator Hong Shenhan to hold a seminar titled "From Ecological Checklists to Natural Solutions." The group signed a "Declaration of Cross-Sectoral Practical Cooperation in the Ecological Community," which was submitted to the National Development Council and the Public Works Commission. The declaration called for the establishment of communication channels between the engineering and ecological communities, allowing these two seemingly conflicting sectors to work together to solve problems. Using natural solutions to solve human problems, "Nature-based Solutions" (NbS), is gaining popularity. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR6 WGII) stated in its latest scientific report that human activities affect both climate and ecosystems, making climate change impacts and risks increasingly complex and difficult to manage. It recommended that the international community strengthen conservation and restoration of ecosystems to enhance overall climate resilience. Research has also found that, rather than relying on man-made engineering to combat the threat of climate change, natural ecosystems can provide a more effective regulatory environment for humanity. Consequently, international public and private sectors and conventions have in recent years identified “Nature-based Solutions” (NbS) as one of the key solutions.

2022-07-19

Earth's metabolism is slowing! Study: Warming combined with wildfires is quadrupling the impact of methane emissions than previously thought

Methane is the second-largest contributor to global warming, second only to carbon dioxide. Although the pandemic has reduced human activity, methane emissions have continued to rise in recent years. Recent research has found that global warming not only increases methane emissions but also slows its removal from the atmosphere. Overall, the impact of global warming on accelerating methane emissions is four times greater than previously estimated. This finding helps explain the rapid increase in methane emissions. It also suggests that, if left unchecked, methane-related warming will escalate over the coming decades. Rising temperatures and wildfires are jointly driving up methane concentrations. While atmospheric methane concentrations are not as high as carbon dioxide, its warming potential is significant, with a 20-year global warming potential 86 times that of carbon dioxide. In recent years, the world has begun to prioritize methane removal as a climate change mitigation priority. Approximately 40% of methane emissions come from natural sources such as wetlands, while 60% comes from human activities such as cattle ranching, fossil fuel extraction, and landfills. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), atmospheric methane concentrations exceeded 1,900 ppb last year (2021), almost three times the pre-industrial level. "With the global COVID-19 pandemic raging, human-induced methane emissions should have decreased. However, puzzlingly, methane emissions have actually grown at an even faster rate over the past two years," said Simon R Redfern, an earth scientist at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

2022-07-14
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