The Bureau of Energy (BEI) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) released its monthly energy statistics last week, showing that renewable energy accounted for 8.3% of Taiwan's total electricity generation in 2022, narrowly surpassing nuclear power's 8.2%. This marks the first time that renewable energy has surpassed nuclear power in a full year. Renewable energy generation increased by 36% compared to the previous year. The MEA stated that it will continue to increase green power capacity, projecting it will reach 29GW by 2025. Renewable energy accounted for 8.3% of total electricity generation for the year, narrowly surpassing nuclear power for the first time. To achieve its 2050 net-zero emissions target, Taiwan is fully committed to developing renewable energy. According to the latest BEI Monthly Energy Statistics released last week (February 7), total renewable energy generation from January to December 2022 reached 23,843 gigawatt-hours (GWh), accounting for approximately 8.3% of total electricity generation. This narrowly surpassed nuclear power, which generated 23,755 GWh, or 8.2%, and marked the first time that renewable energy generation surpassed nuclear power in a full year. Compared with the 17,456 million kWh of renewable energy power generation in 2021, it grew by 36% in 2022 alone. Comparing the global power generation structure, according to the "2020 World Nuclear Industry Status Report", the global share of renewable energy power generation surpassed nuclear power for the first time in 2019. The latest "2022 World Nuclear Industry Status Report" shows that in 2021, nuclear power's share of global total power generation has dropped to 9.8%, falling below 10% for the first time. This figure is the lowest point in 40 years. The European Union set a record for the "greenest year" in 2020, with renewable energy accounting for the total power generation of its 27 member states.

In the past, livestock manure was highly shunned due to its stench and methane emissions. However, in recent years, it has become a hot commodity, both as a source of biogas for power generation and as a purified form of renewable natural gas (RNG). Besides being sold as regular natural gas, RNG also offers environmental subsidies for reducing methane emissions, making manure what foreign media describe as "brown gold." However, climate experts and advocates worry that this transformation will incentivize ranches to expand, defeating the original purpose of reducing methane emissions. Claiming to be more sustainable, RNG has become a popular energy source, with oil companies increasing their investment. The Guardian reports that investment in converting manure into energy has increased rapidly in the United States in recent years. This growth has been particularly pronounced in states with strong livestock production, such as California, Wisconsin, and New York. This business has become even more popular after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), which introduced several incentives for renewable energy and carbon reduction measures. Taking California as an example, by the end of 2022, more than 100 publicly funded anaerobic manure digestion facilities were under construction and would soon be put into operation. In 2021, the number of RNG equipment (including those in planning and already in operation) in the livestock and agricultural sectors in the United States increased by more than 36% compared to the previous year. Methane emissions are one of the problems in the livestock industry. Animal burps and decomposition in manure storage tanks release methane, which is the second largest greenhouse gas causing global warming, with a warming potential 28-36 times that of carbon dioxide. In the past,

In recent years, a global trend toward carbon reduction has spurred the implementation of various greenhouse gas reduction measures and management strategies. Consequently, ISO published the ISO/TS 14067 technical specification for carbon footprint in 2013, providing a method for companies to calculate the carbon footprint of their products and services. This method allows for inventory and analysis of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the product lifecycle, enabling companies to understand their carbon footprint and disclose this information to key stakeholders, enabling them to plan better low-carbon products. After years of development, ISO released ISO 14067:2018, Product Carbon Footprint — Requirements and Guidelines for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions, in January 2018, replacing the ISO/TS 14067:2013 technical specification. ISO 14067:2018 was also upgraded to an international standard. The key changes in the new version of the standard are to strengthen external communication and increase quantification, and incorporate multiple standard framework processes. The revision focuses include: Table 1 ISO14067:2018 chapter changes and differences Chapter Differences 4. Application Adjust the text and align it with ISO14026 communication requirements 5. Principles (1) Corresponding - Functional Unit (CFP)/Declaration Unit (Partial CFP) (2) Delete 5.13 Participation & 5.14 Fairness 6. Quantification Method 6.1 Added a new reference standard for systematic quantification of carbon footprint (Annex C) 6.2 PCR reference standard revision

Starting in 2020, all development parks in Taiwan larger than 50 hectares will be required to submit greenhouse gas offset commitments. The Environmental Protection Administration recently expanded the types of offset sources to include agricultural sector carbon reduction. This marks the first opportunity for farmers to benefit from carbon reduction activities, in addition to afforestation and livestock manure treatment. On the 19th, the Environmental Protection Administration revised and released the "Principles for the Treatment of Incremental Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offsets in Development Activities Reviewed by the Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Treatment Principles"). Farmers who replace old agricultural machinery with electric power, replace fish-attracting lights on fishing boats with LED lights, and replace aquaculture water trucks with high-efficiency, energy-saving equipment can all receive carbon reduction credits. The Council of Agriculture stated that it is currently working out a reasonable amount to purchase carbon reduction credits from farmers in the form of subsidies and then resell them to developers. It hopes to begin purchasing credits this year. Environmental impact assessment development offset principles include a new category of agricultural carbon reduction. In order to promote greenhouse gas reduction by environmental impact assessment development units, the Environmental Protection Agency issued the "Treatment Principles" in 2020, requiring those who meet the requirements of park development of more than 50 hectares, factory establishment, thermal power generation other than natural gas, and cogeneration plant construction to make incremental offset commitments to offset the increased greenhouse gas emissions from development. After the "Treatment Principles" were released in 2020, a total of five major sources of offsets were listed. The Environmental Protection Agency revised and added a variety of offset sources on January 19, and included carbon reduction in the agricultural and transportation sectors. In agriculture, replacing old agricultural machinery with electric agricultural machinery, replacing old fish-attracting lights on fishing boats with LED lights, and replacing fish pond aeration equipment with high-efficiency and energy-saving equipment can all be sources of offsets; in transportation, the "replacement of old cars with electric or hybrid cars" has been added.

The world faces a climate and ecological crisis, and finding solutions to environmental problems has become a crucial topic in contemporary design. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) unveiled the "Taiwan-Denmark Environmental Education Cooperation and Environmental Design Competition Exhibition" yesterday (31st), showcasing winning entries from the "Environmental Care Design Competition" at Taipei's Xihonganji Temple. The exhibition also included entries from Denmark's Index Award. The renowned "Ocean Cleanup Array" marine waste removal project has previously won the Index Award. The EPA's "Environmental Care Design Competition," modeled after the Index Award, has been held four times since 2015, focusing on sustainability and innovation. The exhibition runs from now until February 5th. The Index Award: The Nobel Prize of Design. Recent winners have tended to "co-create with nature." The Index Award, hosted by the Danish nonprofit organization The Index Project, is known as the "Nobel Prize of Design." With a total prize of €500,000, it is the world's richest design award. In addition to well-known brands such as Tesla and Lego, many new startups have also emerged from this award. Charlotte Høeg Andersen, the Education Director of The Index Project, said that the famous marine waste

On December 19, 2018, ISO officially released the new version of ISO 14064-1:2018, Greenhouse gases — Part 1: Quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals by organizations, with guidance. This new version differs from the 2006 version as follows: 1. Inventory and reporting boundaries: Direct greenhouse gas emissions must be quantified, and a documented procedure must be established to define which indirect greenhouse gas emissions outside the organizational boundary should be included in the reporting boundary and inventory. 2. Quantification procedures: Quantified data is categorized as primary, site-specific, and secondary data, and quantification methods must consider technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness. 3. Added definitions: a. Added the definition of indirect greenhouse gas emissions: emissions from an organization's operations and activities that are not owned or controlled by the organization (typically occurring upstream and/or downstream). b. Added definitions for biogenic material and land use. c. Clarified distinctions between organizations, stakeholders, and verification, with explanations of related terms. 4. Added the relationship between ISO 14060 series of greenhouse gas standards (see Table 1 for details). 5. Added background information for ISO 14060 series of standards: ISO 14060 series of standards provides a complete and comprehensive set of standards for quantifying, monitoring, reporting, verifying or certifying greenhouse gas emissions and removals.

Over 50% of Taiwanese people have several unused mobile phones. But did you know? 100 iPhones can yield approximately 0.97 grams of gold, 7.5 grams of silver, and 710 grams of copper; recycling 10,000 iPhones saves production energy equivalent to 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Although Taiwan's mobile phone recycling rate has increased annually to 12%, it still lags behind the international average of 15-20%. According to an EPA survey, reasons people are reluctant to recycle their phones include not knowing where to recycle, a lack of recycling incentives, and concerns about personal data leaks. The Mobile Phone Journey: Disassembly, Refining, and Reuse Where do old phones go? Whether they're handed over to convenience stores, telecom operators, mobile phone stores, or cleaning crews, the mobile phone's recycling journey is about to begin. Li Zhiyi, Director of the Electronics, Electrical, and Information Products Management Group of the Environmental Protection Administration's Recycling Foundation, stated in an interview that manual disassembly and subsequent refining during the mobile phone recycling process can generate unreusable waste, requiring it to be handled by qualified operators. Reusable plastics and precious metals will each enter the appropriate recycling process. Taking iPhones as an example, 100 iPhones can produce approximately 0.97 grams of gold, 7.5 grams of silver, and 710 grams of copper. The extracted precious metals can all enter the recycling process. The production energy saved by recycling every 10,000 iPhones is equivalent to 140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Li Zhiyi explained that although mobile phones are general waste, they contain harmful ingredients, so they need to be handed over to private "Class A treatment institutions" for treatment.

How often do you upgrade your phone? Fairphone, a Dutch eco-friendly mobile phone brand known for its modular design and easy repairability with just a screwdriver, officially launched in Taiwan yesterday (8th). Fairphone advocates extending the lifecycle of mobile phones, reducing electronic waste and carbon emissions, and its first Asian market expansion is in Taiwan. The fourth-generation "Fairphone 4," sold exclusively by Royal Telecommunications and Far EasTone Telecommunications, comes with a two-year warranty in Taiwan and a three-year warranty internationally, along with a five-year parts supply and software update guarantee. The Fairphone 4, an eco-friendly phone with easily replaceable parts, has launched in Taiwan. Mobile phones bring convenience to our lives, but both the extraction of raw materials and the disposal of discarded waste place a significant burden on the planet, and the manufacturing process has been plagued by labor rights issues. Founded in 2013, the Dutch eco-friendly mobile phone brand "Fairphone" advocates fair production practices, easy-to-repair designs, and a high proportion of recycled materials, bringing environmentally and human rights-friendly alternatives to the market. Fairphone launched the fourth generation "Fairphone 4" last year and held a press conference for its launch in Taiwan yesterday (8th). It will be sold exclusively by Royal Telecommunications and Far EasTone Telecommunications. Fairphone co-founder and project director Miquel Ballester Salvà said that the first market outside of Europe to enter is Taiwan. "Seeing people holding Fairphone 4 on the streets of Taiwan is a step towards a fair and sustainable world.

Taiwan's resource recycling will also have its own dedicated "virtual park," but this has nothing to do with the metaverse, nor is it a traditional industrial park. Instead, it's an innovative mechanism for the Environmental Protection Administration to promote a circular economy. This mechanism allows businesses and mid- and downstream waste recycling organizations and processing plants to team up to create "resource recycling networks." Because upstream, mid- and downstream businesses are located in different counties and cities but are part of the same recycling industry chain, waste disposal plans can be packaged and applied for together, just like a virtual park, allowing users to see the past and present of waste recycling all at once.The Environmental Protection Administration recently issued a regulation. Unlike the past, when the "waste clearance documents" of each industry chain had to be reviewed by different competent authorities, which was time-consuming and laborious, the new regulation invites local and central authorities, experts, and representatives of public associations to jointly review them, eliminating unnecessary communication time and costs. The upstream, midstream and downstream management units are different and the review of waste clearance documents is time-consuming. Taiwan's strong manufacturing industry is also moving towards a circular economy process. For example, after high-tech factories etch printed circuit boards, the waste acid containing copper ions will not be discarded, but sent to "recycling agencies" to be made into copper salt raw materials and copper powder raw materials, and then enter the "processing plant" to be remade into products, such as copper metal or various metal salts, and finally returned to the market or returned to the production line. In order to effectively manage the waste cycle, the Environmental Protection Agency stipulates that enterprises that reach a certain scale or produce hazardous waste, as well as waste "recycling agencies" must submit a "waste cleanup plan" (referred to as a waste clearance plan) to the local or central competent authorities, and they can only operate after review. Waste clearance plan

Wearing marine waste is nothing new. The jerseys of national teams like Germany, Spain, and Argentina, currently underway, are made from recycled fibers from Taiwan and contain marine waste. Another company has developed the world's first pair of fully recycled marine waste slippers, the "New National Blue and White Slippers," made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. These slippers not only represent Taiwan's grassroots culture but also highlight the value of the circular economy. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency launched the "Marine Waste Label," and over the past two years, it has certified seven companies and 18 products. The next step is to include the Marine Waste Label in the Recycling Fund's green rate program, allowing businesses using recycled marine waste to enjoy preferential recycling rates. This program is expected to take effect in the first half of next year (2023). Products awarded the label will also be prioritized for government procurement of environmentally friendly products. The new national blue and white slippers are made in Taiwan even from marine waste. Shampoo can also obtain the marine waste label. The "GreenPlax® New National Blue and White Slippers" developed by "22 Dream Factory", a brand under the casual shoe brand Chilu International, are known as the world's first pair of marine waste fully recycled slippers. Each pair of shoes is made from five marine waste plastic bottles, three recycled oyster shells and some environmentally friendly EVA materials. In order to achieve "local full recycling", the team uses marine waste plastic bottles not only from local Taiwan, but also has established a production line in Taichung to build a local green supply chain. The development team is currently carrying out a fundraising plan and plans to donate part of the proceeds in the future. In addition to organizing a number of national beach cleanups, they also promised to buy the plastic bottles of scavengers at three times the price to promote the recycling of marine waste and land plastic bottles. Beauty.