環保時事 - Page 15 of 86

Earth's natural resources will be exhausted by 2023, and ecological debt will begin on August 2nd.

Earth's resources are not inexhaustible. Scientists calculated humanity's annual natural resource allocation and discovered that this year, on August 2nd, we've exhausted our entire resource allocation. From that day forward, we've been overdrawing on Earth's resources. Therefore, this day has been designated Earth Overshoot Day (also known as "Ecological Debt Day"). Earth Overshoot Day means ecological overdrawn. Researchers developed this ecological assessment method in the early 1990s. The Global Footprint Network, citing United Nations data, calculated that feeding the world's population would require the resources of 1.7 Earths. The faster humanity depletes resources, the closer the overdrawn date will be. This is the concept of Earth Overshoot Day. Compared to last year, this year's Overshoot Day was delayed by five days, indicating a slowdown in human resource consumption. However, the latest National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts report indicates that four of the days' difference is due to adjustments in the calculation method, meaning this year's progress is only one day. Over the past five years, the Earth's overshoot has slowed, but experts are unsure whether this is due to the economic downturn or global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Which countries are depleting resources the fastest? If we all lived in Qatar, we would run out of natural resources in 41 days (February 10th), followed by Luxembourg (

2023-08-02

UK to develop guidelines for companies to disclose sustainability risks and opportunities to combat greenwashing

The UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the UK will draw on international standards to develop rules for companies to disclose sustainability risks and opportunities. This will both combat greenwashing and strengthen London's position as a global financial center. UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch stated that the UK will strive to develop guidelines for UK companies to disclose sustainability-related information by July 2024. These UK sustainability disclosure guidelines will be based on the standards published by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). In addition to requiring companies to disclose the climate impact of their operations, they will also require companies to disclose Scope 3 carbon emissions. The initial plan is for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to oversee listed companies, while general UK companies will be regulated by the DBT. The Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Treasury, and the London Stock Exchange (LSE) have all announced their support for the DBT's approach and stated that they will provide recommendations for policy development. The ISSB also commended the UK for promoting this policy. Source: INDEPENDENT

2023-08-02

France will subsidize clothing and shoe repairs starting in October, covering ripped pants, broken zippers, and broken heels.

What would you do if your clothes have a hole, your zipper is broken, or your heel is broken? To reduce textile waste, France launched a new policy in October, offering government subsidies for repairing clothes and shoes. Depending on the project and the level of difficulty, the amount ranges from 6 to 25 euros (approximately NT$210 to NT$870). Bérangère Couillard, France's Secretary of State for Ecology, announced the program on the 11th. Couillard said she hopes more people will decide to repair their clothes rather than discard them, and that the subsidy will also create jobs for tailors and shoemakers. The program is being run by the ecological organization Refashion, and tailors, shoemakers, and clothing and shoe repair companies are all eligible to participate, but they must first obtain Refashion certification. The BBC reports that the French government will provide 154 million euros over five years for the program. According to the French media "The connexion", the amount of subsidies will vary depending on the project. For example, the subsidy for holes in clothes or broken heels is 7 euros, gluing soles is 8 euros, repairing zippers is 8 to 15 euros, and repairing leather shoes can be up to 25 euros. The Guardian reported that up to 700,000 tons of clothing are discarded in France every year, of which 2/3 go to landfills. On average, each French person buys 10.5 kilograms of textiles every year. This policy is part of a series of policies in France to promote the sustainability of the fashion and apparel industry. Starting January 1, 2024, France requires the clothing industry to comply with new labeling rules that list the environmental impact of products, including the amount of water used in the production of clothing, the amount of chemicals used,

2023-07-21

The EU plans to impose a NT$4 disposal fee on each T-shirt, urging the fashion industry to assume producer responsibility.

Do you have a full wardrobe, but always missing something? With the rise of fast fashion, the rate of clothing disposal has accelerated. On average, each person in the EU throws away 12 kilograms of clothes and shoes each year. To promote the sustainable use of textiles, the European Union proposed a draft bill on the 4th that would require producers to pay a prepayment for waste management, estimated at around €0.12 (approximately NT$4) per T-shirt, depending on the ease of recycling and disposal. This is part of the EU's 2030 textile recycling target. Related regulations also include prohibiting businesses from destroying unsold clothing, establishing textile waste recycling systems, and managing inaccurate green labels. Tougher regulations are being implemented to address textile issues that have previously been under-managed. Fast fashion is also accelerating waste: the EU is requiring producers to pay. The success of Zara and H&M has spurred an influx of fast fashion brands like SHEIN and Boohoo, attracting consumers with their trendy and affordable designs. Not only has purchase volume increased, but the rate of replacement and disposal has also accelerated. From the raw materials, water, and electricity required for production to waste disposal, all these factors put pressure on the environment. According to 2019 statistics from the European Environment Agency (EEA), clothing, footwear, and home textiles use approximately 1.3 tons of materials and over 100,000 liters of water per person in the EU each year. These figures are rapidly increasing. Textiles have become the fourth largest source of environmental burden in the EU, following food, housing, and transportation. According to data from the European Commission, approximately 12.6 million tons of textile waste is discarded annually in the EU, with clothing and shoes accounting for 5.2 million tons, equivalent to 12 kilograms of clothing and shoes thrown away per person each year.

2023-07-19

Plastics-related investment risks exceed hundreds of billions. The world's largest environmental disclosure project includes plastics for the first time this year.

In the sweltering summer heat, the sustainability departments of tens of thousands of companies are working furiously to prepare this year's Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). CDP is the world's largest carbon disclosure program, and this data serves as a crucial reference for $136 trillion in investment and $6.8 trillion in procurement, earning it high priority from all businesses. This year, CDP has included a "plastics" project for the first time. Nearly 7,000 companies in the petrochemical, food, and packaging industries have been invited to disclose their plastic production and recycling practices. The data is expected to be publicly available in September. 7,000 companies are being asked to disclose their plastics. With tightening global carbon emissions controls, excessive carbon dioxide emissions may result in carbon fees and even lawsuits, all of which are investment risks. Consequently, over 680 investment institutions worldwide, with a combined $136 trillion in assets under management, require companies to submit CDP information as a guide for investment decisions. In 2022, over 18,700 companies, representing half of the world's total market capitalization, submitted CDP questionnaires. CDP announced that it will add "plastics" disclosures this year, covering plastic polymers, durable plastics, and plastic packaging, which have the greatest environmental impact. The first wave of industries named include chemicals, clothing, food, packaging, etc. Nearly 7,000 companies were invited to disclose information on plastic production or use. Inquiries are expected to be open from September. CDP explained that plastic waste generated by 100 petrochemical companies worldwide accounts for 90% of global plastic waste; plastic packaging of food and beverages is the main source of pollution. In addition, up to 44% of plastic is used for packaging. This year's plastic disclosure is a pilot program. The CDP official website pointed out that in order to give companies time to formulate plastic reduction plans,

2023-07-17

KitKat abandons its "carbon-neutral chocolate" goal. Why are foreign media praising it as a good thing?

Carbon-neutral shampoo, carbon-neutral wine, carbon-neutral beef, carbon-neutral chocolate—as consumers prioritize carbon reduction, a wide variety of carbon-neutral products are beginning to appear on supermarket shelves. However, Nestlé, in contrast, recently announced it would abandon carbon-neutral claims for products like KitKat and Perrier. Rather than sparking outcry, this announcement was praised by foreign media as a positive development. "Carbon neutrality" has repeatedly become a target, with brands like KitKat, Gucci, and EasyJet all dropping their claims. In 2021, KitKat announced it would aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, a goal reversed in 2023. Bloomberg reported that Nestlé explained that its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 remains unchanged; it will simply no longer use carbon offsets to achieve carbon neutrality for products like KitKat and Perrier, instead focusing on reducing carbon emissions within its supply chain. Carbon dioxide is generated during the production, manufacturing, and transportation of products, as well as through electricity consumption and business travel, making it unlikely for the company to achieve zero carbon emissions. Therefore, companies purchase carbon reduction credits to offset these carbon emissions and achieve the so-called "carbon neutrality". Carbon reduction credits may come from carbon offset projects such as planting trees or protecting wetlands, or they may be as far away as Africa, South America or a small island. In recent years, many carbon reduction projects have been exposed as false, which has caused companies to be cast in the shadow of "greenwashing" and even sued. The "carbon neutrality" label on Evian mineral water bottles was sued by American consumers. The plaintiff accused that this was not only a

2023-07-14

The EU proposes a "Soil Monitoring Act," its first soil legislation, in hopes of restoring healthy soil.

On the 5th, the European Commission proposed a draft "Soil Monitoring Law," the EU's first legislation specifically targeting soil health. However, the law focuses primarily on "monitoring" and lacks legally binding targets or mandatory requirements for restoring soil health, sparking widespread disappointment and calls for the Commission to be "bolder" in protecting soil health. The first-ever soil law aims to restore healthy soils across Europe by 2050. Official data indicates that 60-70% of soil in the EU is unhealthy, with approximately 1 billion tons of soil lost annually, leading to a rapid decline in fertile topsoil. The cost of soil degradation is estimated to exceed €50 billion annually. The EU stated that the Soil Monitoring Law aims to restore the health of all EU soils by 2050. The draft law will standardize the definition of soil health and establish a comprehensive and consistent soil monitoring framework. According to Euractiv, EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius stated that healthy soils can enhance disaster resilience, achieve climate neutrality, restore biodiversity, and combat desertification. In the past, the EU lacked a soil law. Now, soil will be included in the protection of the law along with the air, water and marine environment. The EU said that the collection and sharing of soil data can help farmers and landowners. They can take appropriate management measures based on the health of the soil to improve soil fertility and

2023-07-12

New Zealand expands plastic ban, becoming the first country in the world to ban thin plastic bags

New Zealand expanded its plastic ban on July 1st, becoming the first country in the world to ban single-use plastic bags for produce and vegetables. While bringing your own shopping bags is a global trend, most supermarkets and businesses still provide free thin plastic bags next to fruit and vegetables to reduce collisions and facilitate billing. New Zealand supermarkets welcome the ban but acknowledge that there are "irritable customers." The phased expansion of the plastic ban began in 2019, saving over 1 billion plastic bags to date. The ban was expanded in July to include single-use thin plastic bags, plastic straws, and disposable plastic cutlery. According to New Zealand's Ministry of the Environment, each New Zealander generates an average of 60 kilograms of plastic waste annually. The new ban is expected to reduce the use of 150 million plastic bags annually, equivalent to 17,000 bags per hour. The next round of plastic bans will take effect in mid-2025, expanding to food and beverage packaging made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS). The ban on supermarkets offering tips to reduce collisions has been anticipated for some time, and supermarkets have been promoting alternatives to their customers. The BBC reported that Countdown, a major New Zealand supermarket chain, is selling reusable mesh bags as an alternative. Catherine Langabeer, Countdown's head of sustainability, said change takes time. He hinted that "there are some grumpy customers." Foods, which owns PAK'nSAVE, New World, and Four Square supermarkets, is a subsidiary of Countdown.

2023-07-10

How to prevent greenwashing in carbon trading: Scholars suggest carbon reduction must be "additive"

The Taiwan Carbon Exchange (TCE) announced yesterday (August 3rd) that it plans to establish its presence in Kaohsiung on August 7th. As a trading platform for voluntary carbon reduction credits, the exchange will initially conduct international carbon credit trading, with domestic trading to follow after relevant domestic regulations are enacted. The formal introduction of carbon credit trading has raised concerns about triggering "carbon credit greenwashing." Legislators Hung Shen-han and Lin Chu-yin held a public hearing inviting industry, government, and academia to discuss the matter. Scholars pointed out that carbon credits must be "external." They believe that carbon credits do not count if they are legally required or profitable carbon reduction activities. Furthermore, companies should first take drastic measures to reduce carbon emissions before purchasing credits. The EPA has proposed a draft bill allowing for the resale of carbon credits. The TCE will conduct domestic carbon credit trading, international carbon credit trading, and carbon consulting. Its headquarters is expected to be located in Kaohsiung, with an information and trading center in Taipei, operating under a dual-center concept. This marks a new milestone in the journey toward net zero carbon credits. Lin Chuyin pointed out that before the EPA proposed the carbon rights trading sub-law, the stock market had already seen a surge in "carbon rights concept stocks". The Financial Supervisory Commission and the stock exchange should be wary of possible speculation or fraud. Former EPA Chief Secretary Chen Hongda also reminded that carbon trading is to make companies bear the cost of carbon emissions. The initial cost of carbon reduction technology is relatively high. If the cost of carbon rights trading is too low, then companies will not invest in carbon reduction technology. On June 29th of last month, the legislators held a public hearing on "Avoid Greenwashing! What should carbon rights exchanges do?" On the same day, the EPA announced the draft of the "Greenhouse Gas Voluntary Reduction Project Management Measures", which is one of the three sub-laws that the EPA will give priority to since the "Climate Change Response Act" came into effect in February this year. The others are yet to be announced.

2023-07-07

CBAM Analysis: Carbon Market and Opportunities for SMEs

In recent years, climate change has garnered increasing global attention, prompting a flurry of carbon reduction policy initiatives from various countries. The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a key carbon pricing and reduction measure, not only impacts global trade but also presents new challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. To ensure that carbon emissions from imported goods comply with EU environmental standards and prevent carbon leakage and shifting, the European Parliament and the European Commission officially adopted the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Act (CBAM) on May 16th of this year. The CBAM Act will be piloted in October of this year and will begin in 2026. Carbon tariffs will be imposed on imported goods such as steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, electricity, hydrogen, certain precursors, and downstream steel products (such as screws and bolts). This will result in higher import costs for goods from high-carbon-emitting countries, further encouraging businesses to reduce carbon emissions and promoting the development of the global carbon market. The implementation of CBAM will have a direct impact on small and medium-sized enterprises, as these enterprises may face higher production costs and trade competition pressure. However, CBAM also brings many new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, such as promoting carbon reduction in enterprises, achieving carbon neutrality goals by obtaining carbon quotas through participating in carbon market transactions, seeking cooperation with green technology companies to promote the research and development and innovation of carbon reduction technologies, accelerate product upgrades, improve corporate core competitiveness, and develop renewable energy and environmentally friendly products through green industrial transformation to open up new markets. However, the implementation of CBAM will also bring some challenges to small and medium-sized enterprises, such as how to adapt to the new trade

2023-07-07

Can't find a way to dispose of waste? UMC suggests using AI to help recycle resources.

Seventy percent of Taiwan's raw materials are imported, and carbon emissions related to product manufacturing account for 45%. To strengthen resource recycling and enhance industrial resilience, at a forum held by the Environmental Protection Administration on the 30th of last month, UMC Senior Director Lai Huairen suggested that the government proactively connect with industry through AI technology to help them identify various waste resource opportunities and reduce the cost of finding partners. Taiwan Cement is turning waste into energy, using various alternative fuels such as leucaena. "Resource recycling and zero waste" is one of the 12 key strategies for its net-zero path. Lai Yingying, Director of the Environmental Protection Administration's Resource Recycling Office and Director of the Waste Management Division, stated that Taiwan relies on imports for 70% of its raw materials, and carbon emissions related to product manufacturing account for 45%. To reduce carbon emissions and enhance resilience, a shift in thinking is necessary to create new circular business models that maximize resource recycling and minimize waste disposal. The Environmental Protection Administration's Resource Recycling Office held a forum on the 30th titled "Resource Transformation Towards Sustainability," inviting companies to share how they are turning waste into resources. Lai Huairen, senior director of the Risk Management and Safety and Environmental Protection Department of UMC, pointed out that UMC's "Circular Economy Resource Creation Center" is expected to be put into use in 2025. It is not only the first waste resource research and development center in Southern Taiwan Science Park, but also an important indicator of domestic industrial circular symbiosis and transformation, which can reduce 15,000 tons of waste annually. Lu Kefu, deputy general manager of Taiwan Cement, said that Taiwan Cement uses a variety of alternative fuels to help solve social environmental problems, "unfriendly environmentalists". On the 26th, it signed the "Hualien Alien Invasive Plant Resource Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) with the Hualien Forestry Bureau and the Ninth River Bureau to help eliminate the silver wattle. In addition, Taiwan Cement's "DAKA again

2023-07-05

Alishan Train reduces pollution by over 90% by wearing masks; all locomotives will be replaced with eco-friendly ones by 2025

Many people imagine riding a steam train through the thousand-year-old sacred trees. However, the train's fuel, bituminous coal, emits black smoke, sulfur compounds, and PM2.5 particulate matter, effectively missing out on Alishan's "beautiful mountains, beautiful waters, and beautiful air." Last year (2022), the Alishan area was designated an air quality maintenance zone. The Chiayi County government announced a goal to replace all locomotives by 2025, providing guidance for conversion to more fuel-efficient "environmentally friendly" locomotives. By then, emissions will meet air quality maintenance zone standards. The trains, with their "masks" boasting over 90% smoke filtering efficiency, aim to have all locomotives replaced by 2025. Alishan is Taiwan's highest air quality maintenance zone. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) held a visit yesterday (the 2nd). Chiayi County EPA Director Zhang Huichuan stated that with emission reduction funds gradually in place, Chiayi County aims to replace all locomotives with more fuel-efficient "environmentally friendly" locomotives by 2025, bringing emissions up to air quality maintenance zone standards. Since 2017, the Chiayi County Government has used the Air Pollution Fund to subsidize the Alishan train to "wear masks" and install smoke filters, which has improved the efficiency to 95% and reduced PM2.5 emissions by 40 kilograms per train per year. Zhang Huichuan pointed out that in the past, the Alishan Forestry and Railway Department of the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture had modified the antique steam locomotive to be able to burn "biomass coal bricks". This type of coal brick is made by pressing and carbonizing wood chips and coal charcoal. The calorific value of combustion is not inferior to traditional bituminous coal, but the sulfur, ash and volatile matter content is lower. However, burning biomass coal bricks on the train is only experimental, and installing smoke filters cannot solve the problem. The Alishan Air Pollution Control Area will be established in 2022 to introduce electric

2023-07-03

New environmental regulations for online shopping are coming into effect. Companies are developing smart box selection and consolidation solutions to reduce packaging costs.

New regulations to reduce online shopping packaging will take effect tomorrow (July 1st). Fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 will be imposed if the materials or weight exceed or fail to meet standards. The Environmental Protection Administration will work with local governments to target large businesses with capitalization exceeding NT$150 million for audits. Well-known e-commerce companies such as PChome, MOMO, Uni-President, and Books.com.tw are reportedly on Taipei City's second-half audit list. In response to the new regulations, some businesses have pioneered the development and upgrading of intelligent logistics systems, which automatically recommend packaging materials and proactively issue warnings for overweight packaging. New regulations to reduce online shopping packaging will take effect on July 1st, covering both packaging materials and weight. According to the Environmental Protection Administration, Taiwan consumed 220 million online shopping packaging in 2021, totaling 57,000 metric tons. This number is projected to double by 2030. To prevent excessive packaging consumption, the "Regulations on the Use and Implementation of Online Shopping Packaging Restrictions" were announced early this year (2023). Starting tomorrow (July 1st), online shopping cartons must contain more than 90% recycled paper, plastic bags must contain more than 25% recycled plastic, and PVC materials are completely banned. To avoid waste caused by "heavy boxes for lightweight small items", the Environmental Protection Agency has also introduced a "packaging weight ratio" standard, which is divided into three levels according to the weight of the goods. The "packaging material weight" must not exceed 40%, 30%, and 15% of the "packaging material + total weight of the goods" respectively. According to the content of the announcement, businesses that use PVC packaging materials (including tapes and cushioning materials) will be fined NT$1,200 to NT$1,600. If the proportion of recycled materials in the packaging material and the packaging weight ratio do not meet the regulations, a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 will be imposed. If it is not changed by the deadline, a daily fine will be imposed. Those with serious circumstances must suspend work, business or

2023-06-30

Paris summit promotes 'new global financial system' to help poor countries combat climate change

Developing countries emit less carbon dioxide, but face the burden of severe disasters and debt when faced with extreme climate change. The "Summit for a New Global Financing Pact" was held in Paris, France, on the 22nd and 23rd. Leaders from over 40 countries gathered to explore a new financial system to help low-income countries combat climate change. Good news emerged from the meeting: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached its $100 billion target for Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), potentially enabling lower-interest loans. Some countries also support taxing the shipping industry, potentially providing more climate funding. However, climate advocates question whether these measures will be enough to help poor countries escape their debt crisis. Bearing the burden of the climate crisis, poor countries face a debt crisis. Poor countries reeling from climate disasters often resort to borrowing to weather the crisis. Heavy debts prevent them from investing in more resilient infrastructure and resilience mechanisms. Consequently, they remain ill-equipped to respond to the next disaster. Despite repeated pledges of funding from rich countries, the promised funds have yet to materialize. The conference host, French President Emmanuel Macron, hopes to use the summit to build political pressure to restructure the financial system. The Associated Press reported that the idea for the summit originated from the "Bridgetown Initiative" proposed by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley at last year's UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), hoping to thoroughly

2023-06-28

Energy Bureau statistics: Electricity consumption decreased by 1.3% last year, with the service industry seeing a significant increase in electricity consumption

The Bureau of Energy (BEI) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) released its "National Electricity Resources Supply and Demand Report" last week (21st), projecting electricity consumption for 2022 to be approximately 279.45 billion kWh, a 1.3% decrease from the previous year (2021). Last year, total installed power generation capacity nationwide was approximately 61.944 million kWh, a net increase of 2.54 million kWh compared to the previous year, driven by significant growth in solar photovoltaics and offshore wind power. The BEI predicts that electricity demand this year will be similar to last year's. Last year's electricity consumption was 279.4 billion kWh, with the service sector showing the largest growth. The BEI of the Ministry of Economic Affairs released its "National Electricity Resources Supply and Demand Report" on the 21st, projecting electricity consumption for 2022 to be approximately 279.45 billion kWh, a 1.3% decrease from the previous year (2021). The industrial sector consumed the most electricity, accounting for 156.8 billion kWh (56%), followed by residential consumption at 50.9 billion kWh (18%) and the service sector at 47.6 billion kWh (17%). In the past few years, industrial electricity consumption has been rising steadily, but this year it has not increased but decreased. The Energy Bureau explained that due to the impact of global inflation and interest rate hikes, supply chain adjustments have caused economic activities in the domestic industrial sector to slow down, and the industrial sector's electricity consumption has decreased by about 4.5 billion kWh compared to 2021, a decrease of 2.81%. In contrast, as the epidemic has eased in the service sector, the number of tourists traveling, dining, and other tourist consumption has returned, and leisure and entertainment, accommodation-related consumption and passenger volume of Taiwan Railways, High Speed Rail, and MRT have continued to recover, causing the service and transportation sectors to increase electricity consumption by about 2.4 billion kWh, an increase of 5.03%. The increase in outdoor activities by the public has also reduced residential electricity consumption by about 1.7 billion kWh, a decrease of 3.18

2023-06-26

After 20 years of negotiations, the United Nations has adopted the first international treaty to protect the high seas.

Nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans are located in the high seas. Because they are not under the jurisdiction of any nation, they are often subject to improper development and exploitation. After nearly 20 years of negotiations, the United Nations (UN) finally adopted the world's first international agreement to protect the high seas on the 19th. Currently, only 1% of the high seas is protected. Once the High Seas Treaty enters into force, the UN will establish a new ocean regulatory agency and establish a legal framework for high seas marine protected areas, allowing more of the high seas to be protected and taking a major step towards its goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. The High Seas Treaty is a legally binding international instrument drafted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Agreement was reached in March of this year and formally adopted this week. According to UN information, the agreement will be open for signature at UN Headquarters in New York on September 20, 2023, and will enter into force only after 60 countries have ratified it. The UN Secretary-General must convene a Conference of the Parties (COP) within one year of its entry into force. At the end of 2022, nearly 200 countries agreed to protect 30% of their land and oceans by 2030, a goal known as the "30x30" target. The high seas treaty is crucial to achieving the "30x30" target.

2023-06-21

Taiwan consumes 6 billion PET bottles annually. Fengcha's team is promoting "RF100," urging businesses to achieve zero water waste.

You may have heard that major companies like TSMC have joined RE100, pledging to use 100% renewable energy by 2050. But have you heard of RF100? Today (June 16th) is World Refill Day, and the Fengcha Action team has launched the "RF100 Drinking Water Zero Waste Project," inviting 100 public departments, organizations, and businesses in Taiwan to sign a commitment to no longer use, provide, or purchase bottled water in all their activities by 2030. Many companies and institutions have already agreed to join, with Lakeshore Hotel and Yiyun Medical stating they have already achieved "zero drinking water waste." Taiwan consumes 6 billion plastic bottles annually, and the public is calling on businesses to commit to zero bottled water by 2030. Taiwan consumes 6 billion plastic bottles annually, 1 billion of which are bottled water. The Fengcha Action team launched the Fengcha app in March 2020, allowing people to easily find nearby drinking tea spots through a "drinking water map." The app has accumulated 230,000 users, with 13,000 tea-serving locations, saving approximately 1.42 million cans of bottled water. The Tea-Serving Action Team specially launched the "RF100 Drinking Water Zero Waste Plan" on World No Packaging Day, inviting 100 companies, public departments, and organizations to commit to 100% eliminating the use of bottled water in internal and external activities by 2030. The team revealed that many companies and institutions have agreed to respond, and some companies have even stated that they do not need to wait until 2030. All internal and external activities and spaces have already stopped using, providing, or purchasing bottled water below 1 liter, including Lion Travel and Yanbo University.

2023-06-17

Taipei Qu Yuan Temple: Net Zero "Walking with the Gods" - First Photovoltaic Energy Storage Demonstration Debuts

The central and local governments are simultaneously promoting a net-zero transition. Today (the 13th), the Taipei City Government announced the results of its efforts to establish a demonstration temple with energy storage. A 4.8kW rooftop photovoltaic system, paired with a 15kW energy storage system, has been installed at the Qu Yuan Temple in Zhoumeili, Beitou District. This system is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24,000 kilograms annually. The 4.8kW photovoltaic system combined with the 15kW energy storage system can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24 tons annually. Taipei City aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and in mid-2018, it passed the "Taipei City Net-Zero Emission Management Autonomous Regulations," becoming the first local regulation in Taiwan to do so. The private sector is also responding to the net-zero transition with action. The Beitou District Zhoumeili Office, the Qu Yuan Temple Management Committee, and private companies have collaborated to install solar panels at the Qu Yuan Temple in Zhoumeili, combined with energy storage and energy conservation facilities. This allows for self-generation and self-consumption of electricity, reducing reliance on utility power and saving on electricity bills. This makes it Taipei City's first demonstration temple with energy storage. The Environmental Protection Bureau explained that the Dragon Boat House next to the Qu Yuan Palace currently has a total of 4.8KW rooftop photovoltaic panels installed, paired with a 15KW energy storage system. The measured power generation from 12:00 on June 5th to 12:00 on June 9th reached 96 kWh. According to the manufacturer's evaluation, the cost of energy creation, energy storage, and energy saving for the Qu Yuan Palace and the Museum of Literature and History is approximately two and a half years of electricity expenses for the temple; in addition, through green energy generation, 24 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced annually. In the future, the scale of the installation will be increased to 8KW, and through the use of a smart power supply system, the electricity consumption of the Qu Yuan Palace and the Museum of Literature and History will be self-generated and self-sufficient. The Taipei City Government announced on the 10th the "2023 Taipei International Dragon Boat Championship-Dragon Boat Eye-Dotting and River Sacrifice Ceremony".

2023-06-13

Taiwan Climate Academy unveiled, collaborating with industry and academia to fill gaps in sustainable development talent

The Taiwan Climate Alliance, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, National Cheng Kung University, and National Taiwan Normal University, held an unveiling ceremony for the "Taiwan Climate Academy" today (the 5th). The Taiwan Climate Alliance noted that domestic industries are facing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, and the demand for manpower for climate governance is increasing. The establishment of the academy can fill this talent gap. Vice President Lai Ching-te attended the event and delivered a speech, emphasizing that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face the challenge of achieving carbon reduction transformation on their own, and that the academy can help those lagging behind achieve a fair transition. Industry and academia have established the "Taiwan Climate Academy" to teach businesses about sustainable management. Taiwan aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and facing international pressure to reduce carbon emissions, the government is actively urging domestic industries to transform. The Taiwan Climate Alliance held an unveiling ceremony for the "Taiwan Climate Academy" today, collaborating with Tsinghua University, National Cheng Kung University, and National Taiwan Normal University. Taiwan Climate Alliance Chairman Hai Ying-jun explained that the rapid rise of the global net-zero and green economy is requiring transformation across all industries, leading to a significant increase in the demand for sustainable talent. He expressed hope that the "Taiwan Climate Academy" will help the information and communications technology (ICT) industry cultivate sustainable management talent and accelerate Taiwan's net-zero transition. Peng Qiming, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Climate Alliance, further explained that the industry is currently facing pressure to reduce carbon emissions. While large corporations may have the means to respond, many small and medium-sized enterprises within the domestic and international supply chains have relatively fewer resources for carbon reduction transitions and need to develop greater climate governance capabilities. The academy can offer courses tailored to each career stage, with experienced sustainability professionals in the industry collaborating to share their ICT industry experience. It also offers case-based teaching methods for corporate decision-makers and climate knowledge training for mid- to senior-level executives.

2023-06-09

Global plastics pact negotiations stall as oil-producing nations and industry stall

Last week, over 170 national representatives and observers gathered in Paris for a second round of negotiations aimed at jointly reducing plastic pollution by proposing a legally binding "Global Plastics Treaty" by 2024. The negotiations concluded on the 2nd, with much of the meeting time tied up in voting procedures, resulting in limited progress. Ultimately, the countries agreed to prepare a preliminary draft before the next round of negotiations to facilitate substantive discussions. The "Global Plastics Treaty" is the most important environmental agreement since the Paris Agreement. The first round of negotiations will take place at the end of 2022, with the second round taking place in Paris from May 29th to June 2nd. Five meetings are expected before the end of 2024 to finalize a legally binding treaty. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which chaired the talks, released a blueprint ahead of the negotiations to reduce plastic consumption by 80% by 2040. Reuters reported that the blueprint outlined three key areas of action: reuse, recycling, and transitioning plastic packaging to alternative raw materials. However, environmental groups criticized the blueprint for its overemphasis on waste management and insufficient focus on source reduction, calling it a concession to the plastics industry. According to The Guardian, the world currently produces 430 million metric tons of plastic materials each year, two-thirds of which have a short lifespan and quickly become waste. If this trend does not change, plastic product production will triple by 2060. According to Politico, most of the second round of negotiations was spent debating voting rules and procedural points, and the main topic was not discussed until the third day.

2023-06-07

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