Walmart, the world's largest retailer, will officially launch its "Green Sourcing" program next year. Products from up to one million suppliers will be required to obtain carbon footprint emission certifications before being placed on shelves. Major manufacturers that have already obtained certification, such as TSMC, UMC, AU Optronics, Chi Mei Optoelectronics, and ASUS, have essentially secured their "green sourcing ticket" with Walmart and will begin to reap the benefits. For example, TSMC, with annual revenue of NT$400 billion, half of which comes from the US market, will have a strong guarantee for entering the US and even global markets next year with carbon footprint certification. Meanwhile, with rising global consumer awareness of environmental protection, purchasing green products has become a trend, and low-carbon electronics are undoubtedly the future trend. Walmart responded to environmental protection by using labels to show its love for the planet. It announced its Green Sourcing program in July 2009 and officially implemented it in 2011. Until 2015, all products on the shelves must be labeled with carbon footprint emission information; otherwise, they will not be allowed to be sold. Walmart has over 100,000 suppliers, and each supplier may have dozens of contract manufacturers and distributors, potentially affecting millions of suppliers worldwide. TSMC, UMC, AU Optronics, Chi Mei Optoelectronics, and ASUS were among the first major domestic manufacturers to offer carbon footprint product certification. System giants like Compal and Quanta, which manufacture for Dell and HP, have also established green departments to address this issue. iST and ICT are domestic carbon footprint testing hardware and software providers; these are all representative stocks in the carbon footprint concept. Industry insiders explain that carbon footprint labeling is similar to calorie labeling on food; the fewer calories, the better.

Curitiba, Brazil, boasts numerous lush forests and is also known as the city with the highest recycling rate in the world. The local government implemented a "trash for food" program, where residents can exchange 4 kilograms of trash for 1 kilogram of fruits and vegetables by collecting and recycling it. To earn free food, locals have gradually developed the habit of sorting and recycling their trash. The biggest contributors to this high recycling rate are the ordinary citizens. Thousands of people push carts along the streets every day, collecting and storing trash. Project manager Vincent stated, "As long as these people are willing, we will continue this program. It not only helps keep the city clean but also helps them have food on their tables." Ensuring residents' food security, cleaning the city, and reducing government spending on low-income households seems like a win-win situation; trash can be turned into gold. However, the Brazilian government never anticipated this problem: because residents can exchange trash for food or sell it to private recycling companies for cash, newly built public housing units on the city's outskirts, costing $23,000 per household, have become storage warehouses for low-income residents' trash. To prevent pollution of nearby rivers, the government strongly encouraged residents to participate and even helped build waste storage facilities. Currently, there are 10 recycling warehouses available for public use, aiming to transform waste from a symbol of filth and pollution into a synonym for resource recycling. – Source: TVBS

In Germany, renewable energy generation is purchased at government-mandated subsidies, which are then passed on to all electricity consumers through the electricity price structure. This year, renewable energy subsidies have reached €13.5 billion. Many power companies raised electricity prices at the beginning of the year. To prevent future price increases from spiraling out of control, the German government decided to significantly reduce subsidies for solar power installations starting in July 2011, with a maximum reduction of 15%. A further 9% reduction is possible in 2012, bringing the maximum reduction to 24% within a year, lowering the price of solar photovoltaic power to €0.2184 per kilowatt. The market reaction to this news was mixed. Shares of companies like SMA Solar, Phoenix, Centrotherm, and Solarword rose, but shares of major players such as Conergy, Q-Cells, and Roth & Rau fell. The German Federal Association for Energy and Water (BDEW) welcomed the move, believing it would help slow competition from foreign suppliers entering the German market. According to previous estimates by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany's solar power generation capacity could reach a maximum of 5,000 MW in 2010, but the actual generation reached 17,000 MW, exceeding expectations. Minister Dr. Norbert Röttgen stated that the successful development of solar photovoltaic technology in Germany proves the immense potential of renewable energy, but timely policy adjustments are necessary to prevent runaway electricity price increases. Source: International Trade Office

Starting January 1st of this year, Finnish gas stations will gradually switch to 95-octane gasoline with an alcohol content of 10%, phasing out the previously used 5% alcohol content 95-octane gasoline. Some car engines are not compatible with 10% alcohol content 95-octane gasoline and must switch to the more expensive 98-octane gasoline. With the alcohol content increased to 10%, the surcharge on 95-octane gasoline has been slightly reduced, and gas stations will reflect this tax reduction in fuel prices, passing it on to consumers. 95-octane gasoline is currently the most widely used gasoline in Finland, and even with the 10% alcohol content increase, it will still be suitable for approximately 72% of vehicles. Increasing the alcohol content of 95-octane gasoline will not only reduce carbon dioxide emissions during vehicle operation but also increase the use of renewable energy. Source: Bureau of Foreign Trade

On December 3, 2010, the German Federal Institute for Risk Research (BfR) recommended a regulatory crackdown on hair products containing high concentrations of formaldehyde. BfR research indicates that a free formaldehyde concentration of 1.7% to 1.8% in these hair products may pose a health risk. Formaldehyde is a strong irritant to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Furthermore, it can cause allergies and, in severe cases, shock. BfR classifies it as a human carcinogen. Recent scientific discussions suggest a possible link between formaldehyde and leukemia. BfR recommends a safe level of 0.1 ppm for formaldehyde in indoor air. The EU prohibits the use of formaldehyde in hair products. However, an increasing number of consumers and hairdressers are importing hair products, such as those for straightening hair, directly or online, significantly increasing the risk of formaldehyde exposure. It is understood that within the EU, formaldehyde is only approved for use as an active ingredient in nail polish, with a maximum usage of 5%; in cosmetics, its usage as a preservative is limited to 0.2%, and any content of 0.05% must be labeled. However, tests on hair straightening products found formaldehyde levels of 1.7% to 1.8%. The BfR recommends that federal state authorities immediately take appropriate measures to inspect, such as testing hair products containing formaldehyde, and advising consumers against using such products. Source: WTO Inspection and Quarantine Information Network

Neste, a Finnish company, has successfully completed the construction of the world's largest biofuel plant in Singapore. The total construction cost was €550 million, and it is expected to be fully operational in 2011, producing biodiesel using palm oil and animal fats. Neste states that its biodiesel is of excellent quality, performs well even at low temperatures, is suitable for all diesel engines, can be blended with other petrochemical diesels, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-80%. The Singapore biofuel plant has an annual capacity of 800,000 metric tons and will employ approximately 120 people. Neste's other biofuel plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2011. The use of palm oil to produce bioenergy remains controversial. Environmentalists oppose it primarily because planting palm trees requires the extensive deforestation of rainforests, which will have a profound impact on the ecosystem. Neste emphasizes that all palm trees used in the future will come from environmentally compliant forests. –Source: Foreign Trade Bureau

On December 14, 2010, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) conducted an opinion survey among EU institutions and published its opinion on fair trade and sustainable labelling schemes for consumer goods. The report encouraged the EU to increase regulatory and resource-based labelling schemes to strengthen fair trade and other consumer labelling initiatives. The EESC's opinion was based on the European Commission's communication on "Promoting Sustainable Development," in which the Commission encouraged the promotion of consumer labelling schemes, at least to give consumers more choices, but also stated that the proliferation of various labeling systems could increase consumer confusion, and the negative impact of these schemes could cause these labels to lose their credibility. http://eescmembers.eesc.europa.eu/EESCMembers.aspx?culture=en – Source: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

The Belgian paper industry guarantees that the timber used in its paper products and cardboard boxes is legally harvested in compliance with environmental regulations. After a year and a half of negotiations, the Belgian paper industry union, Cobelpa, recently reached this agreement with relevant industry players, aiming to demonstrate in a completely transparent manner that Belgian-made paper and cardboard products never use environmentally unfriendly wood raw materials. Cobelpa stated that EU regulations will not be required to be implemented by member states until 2013, making Belgium the only European country to implement them ahead of schedule. Cobelpa pointed out that businesses have reported an increasing number of printing plants using "certified" paper, meaning paper traceable by PEFC or FSC agencies, proving that the wood fiber or recycled paper pulp source meets environmental requirements. Its aim is to prevent illegal logging that damages valuable forest biodiversity and ecological reserves. The Belgian paper industry produces 2 million tons of paper annually, with a total output value of approximately €2 billion, employing over 4,000 people. Currently, the Belgian paper industry consumes 2.9 million cubic feet of wood annually, mostly imported from France and Germany. Pulp is also used, with half coming from Europe, North America, and Latin America. Some sources violate environmental regulations, such as the felling of large amounts of forest for the cultivation of genetically modified agricultural products; Indonesia, for example, has done so extensively, thus placing it on the red list of countries. Source: Bureau of International Trade

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP-16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29 to December 10, 2010. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its sincere gratitude to our allies for their letter to Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Secretariat, prior to the conference, and for their remarks at the high-level meeting of COP16 supporting Taiwan's participation in the UFCCC. In their letter to Executive Secretary Figueres and in their remarks at the Cancun conference, our allies emphasized that a global response to climate change must ensure a context of comprehensive participation, and that climate change requires immediate global action from all countries. In view of Taiwan's economic and technological strength, particularly its contributions to international cooperation in human development and to addressing climate change, we urge representatives of all countries to agree to invite Taiwan to participate in the UFCCC process discussions. The friendly nations that sent this letter supporting my participation in the UNFCCC include: Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, the Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, El Salvador, Burkina Faso, São Tomé and Príncipe, Swaziland, and Gambia (13 countries in total). Furthermore, the friendly nations that spoke on my behalf at the Cancun High-Level Conference include: Palau, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Belize, the Solomon Islands, Panama, Gambia, the Marshall Islands, and Nicaragua (9 countries in total). Striving for meaningful participation in the UNFCCC is a set policy of my government, and I am willing to actively contribute my efforts to addressing global climate change.

Advantages of Hydropower. Hydropower technology is highly mature and, compared to thermal power, is not affected by greenhouse gas emissions or rising oil prices. Small hydropower plants are also widely accepted. Furthermore, hydropower efficiency reaches 85%, superior to the 20% and 40% of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, respectively. Hydropower plants also offer numerous other functions, such as flood control, navigation, agricultural irrigation, and leisure tourism. Rising energy prices and climate change will make hydropower a winner. Due to climate change, increasing global energy consumption, and the gradual depletion of oil reserves, electricity prices are rising, and hydropower is expected to gain more attention. German economists predict that electricity prices in European countries will rise by an average of 4% annually by 2030. In addition, economic development will drive up oil prices and increase public works spending, forcing countries to readjust their environmental and climate change policies, which will benefit the development of hydropower. The Single European Electricity Market is gradually taking shape in the European Union. Since the late 1990s, establishing a single electricity market has been a key EU policy. Major infrastructure development has been underway, including the expansion of interconnection points between national border power grids, the completion of the North See Ring wind farm, and the expansion of high-voltage transmission networks. As a result, electricity market isolation issues in remote areas such as Scandinavia and Southeast Europe will be alleviated.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a greenhouse gas emissions reduction framework on January 10 to help industries comply with new emissions standards that will take effect early next year. This is the first set of industrial emissions reduction frameworks in U.S. history. The EPA released emissions standards for automobiles earlier this year; now it's the turn of "stationary" facilities, namely power plants, refineries, and factories. The framework aims to help large industries such as power plants and steel mills find the best ways to reduce pollutants in order to meet the stricter regulations that will take effect on January 2, 2011. The new framework focuses on proactive "emissions reduction efficiency," rather than passively "capturing" carbon after emissions occur. Furthermore, the EPA believes that carbon capture technology is not yet well-developed, too expensive, and detrimental to industry. The new framework includes measures such as: refineries should replace dirty fuels with cleaner fuels, and power plants should improve electricity and energy efficiency. Starting January 2, major emitters must report to their state governments how they will reduce emissions when building new facilities and how they can reduce emissions when upgrading existing facilities. EPA officials stated that for the past 30 years, whenever a new policy was introduced, the EPA would publish guidelines under the Clean Air Act to assist industry, and this time is no exception, therefore it's not a major breakthrough. Republicans, however, oppose the Obama administration's implementation of new standards to control greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the US economy is still recovering and such measures would harm businesses. – Source: Lianhe Wanbao

The "Development Plan for the Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Industry," jointly compiled by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, has been basically completed and will be submitted to the State Council soon. Energy conservation and environmental protection have been listed as the top priority among the seven strategic emerging industries. The plan will focus on supporting six key areas: high-efficiency energy-saving technologies and equipment, high-efficiency energy-saving products, energy-saving service industry, advanced environmental protection technologies and equipment, and environmental protection products and services, providing policy support in areas such as finance, taxation, and banking. Specifically, in the energy conservation industry, the focus is on three aspects: First, developing high-efficiency energy-saving technologies and equipment, including boilers and kilns, motors and drive equipment, waste heat and pressure utilization equipment, and energy-saving monitoring technologies and equipment. The key focus is on demonstrating and promoting rare-earth permanent magnet coreless motors and new cogeneration centralized heating technologies based on absorption heat exchange. Second, developing high-efficiency energy-saving products, including household and commercial appliances, lighting products, building materials, and automobiles. The focus is on researching and demonstrating new energy-saving vehicles and supporting systems with independent intellectual property rights, and promoting high-efficiency energy-saving products with energy efficiency levels 1 and 2. Third, developing the energy-saving service industry, promoting energy-saving service companies to provide energy-consuming units with "one-stop" services such as energy-saving diagnosis, design, financing, renovation, and operation, and a market-oriented energy-saving service model that recovers investment through energy-saving benefit sharing. In the environmental protection industry, the focus is on three aspects: First, developing advanced environmental protection technologies and equipment, including wastewater and waste treatment, desulfurization and denitrification, high-concentration organic wastewater treatment, soil remediation, and monitoring equipment. The key focus is on overcoming challenges in membrane bioreactors, denitrification and phosphorus removal, lake cyanobacteria treatment, and sludge harmless treatment technologies and equipment.

According to this newspaper, the "Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption Limits" (Phase III Standard) will be released in December and implemented starting in 2011. Unlike the previous two phases, the Phase III standard will include all models under a single automaker in the assessment scope. The fuel consumption limit of the new standard will be 20% lower than that of the second phase, and by 2015, the national average fuel consumption of passenger vehicles will be reduced to around 7 liters per 100 kilometers. The new standard will propose a gradual target, but will be strictly implemented from 2015 onwards. Since the beginning of this year, there has been increasing demand for reducing passenger vehicle fuel consumption to encourage manufacturers to produce low-displacement compact cars with lower fuel consumption. Compliance with the new policy will affect the profitability of companies. It is understood that while the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology was discussing the draft of the "Evaluation Methods and Indicators for Phase III Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption," research on supporting fiscal and tax policies linked to the standard has already begun. Automakers that fail to meet the standards will face tax penalties, while those that exceed the standards will enjoy a reduction in tax rates. Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that after implementing the first and second phases of fuel consumption limits, more than 800 vehicle models that did not meet the limits had been discontinued by last year. Jin Yuefu, one of the main drafters of the "Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption Limits" (Phase III standard) and deputy chief engineer of the Standardization Institute of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, stated that the Phase III limits have been drafted, but it is "unlikely" that they will be officially implemented next year because "currently no company fully meets the standards." The "Phase III fuel consumption limits" are based on the US Corporate Average Fuel Economy Act, which sets limits on the fuel consumption of vehicles produced by automakers.