Climate change in Taiwan

Climate change has already affected Taiwan like many other countries. The average temperature has risen 1.4 degrees Celsius in the last 100 years which is twice the average of the temperature rise globally.[1]Taiwan is he 5th largest carbon emitter per capita in Asia and the emission has increased 0.92% between 2005 and 2016. The government of Taiwan has pledged to reduce emissions by 20% in 2030 and 50% in 2050 comparing to 2005 levels.[2]

Effects of climate change

Current
Sea level rise in Taiwan

Coral reefs in Taiwan have experienced bleaching with 2020 experiencing the worst bleaching in 22 years.[3] 31% of coral reefs around Taiwan are dying due to high temperatures in the sea water. 52% of the corals is experiencing different levels of heat stress and 31% is dying in a irreversible process.[4]

Typhoons would normally make landfall three to four times a year but since 2010 the average has been 2.5 typhoons a year. Shortages in waterreservoirs have been announced in 2020 caused by typhoons not making landfall on taiwan or going near taiwan this was the first year in more than 50 years that Taiwan didn't see a storm. 2020 has experienced the worst drought since more than 50 years as rainfall declined with 20% to 60%.[5][6] The summer of 2020 has been recorded as having the hottest weather ever in Taiwan.[2] According to a survey that the RSPRC conducted in April 2020, 85% of Taiwanese said that they experienced the effects of climate change on some level.[7]

Future

Northern Taiwan could experience more frequent spring droughts between 2040 and 2060, which could have an effect on the water use for the public and water use for agriculture.[8] At the end of the century typhoons that make landfall in Taiwan will decrease between 44% to 54% comparing to typhoons that made landfall between 1974 to 2015. Which would lead to stronger winds by 4% to 8% and more rainfall during the typhoon with 30% to 40%, the rainfall annually would drop with 40% to 60%.[9] In a report that Greenpeace Taiwan published in August 2020, it was reported that the sea around Taiwan is rising at twice the rate of the global sea level rise. They said 6 municipalities are in danger of sea level rise and storm surges which accounts for 70% of the population. Places like the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, Songshan Airport, parts of Kaohsiung would be flooded and Tainan would see the biggest damage due to flooding.[10]

Public opinion

A survey that the RSPRC conducted in April 2020 said that accelerate of energy transition and reduction in carbon was ranked in third place with 38.7% when asked what the government long terms priorities should be. There is bipartisan support under supporters of the Pan-Blue camp (76.2%) and the Pan-Green camp (84%) for a proactive promotion of an energy transition. 78.5% of the respondents supported the governments targets for 2025 to have 20% of renewable energy in 2025. Respondents gave 3.83 out of 7 points for how fair the energy transition is, they gave 3.74 out of 7 points to how well planned the energy transition is and they gave 4.32 out of 7 points on how urgent the government acted on it. 44.7% are supportive to phase out fossil fuels, 43.7% were against phasing out fossil fuels. Academics and experts were the most trusted when talking about energy information (59.3%), environmental groups came second (37.6%). 59.8% of respondents said that businesses should be required to have obligations with the energy transition if they get stimulus from the government to help them through Covid-19, 77.2% of respondents wanted that they did the same for airlines.[11]

Government response

The Taiwanese government has pledged to have 20% of renewable energy in 2025.[12] The government plegded reduce emissions by 20% in 2030 and 50% in 2050% comparing to 2005 levels which is signed in the 2015 Taiwan’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act. Which would not be enough to keep global temperatures between 1.5-2 degrees celsius according to the RSPRC. The government of Taiwan has invested in the wind turbine industry, Taiwan had the 8th biggest offshore wind market in the world in 2019.[2]

References
  1. "The Average November Temperature in Corpus Christi, Texas". Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  2. "Is Taiwan Doing Enough to Address Climate Change in The Hottest Summer Ever?｜Politics & Society｜2020-08-19｜web only". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  3. "Coral bleaching in Taiwan waters worst in 22 years: Greenpeace - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  4. "One-third of Taiwan's corals dying due to bleaching: researchers - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  5. News, Taiwan. "Water crisis looms in Taiwan in year of zero typhoons". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  6. "Taiwan may see fewer typhoons but more droughts as climate warms". South China Morning Post. 2020-12-22. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  7. "New Survey Shows Strong Support for Energy Transition in Taiwan". rsprc.ntu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  8. "When Flooding, Heatwaves, Droughts Become the Norm in Taiwan｜Politics & Society｜2019-11-18｜CommonWealth Magazine". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  9. "Typhoons to halve by century's end - Taipei Times". taipeitimes.com. 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  10. "Taiwan faces watery future: Greenpeace - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2020-08-25. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  11. "New Survey Shows Strong Support for Energy Transition in Taiwan". rsprc.ntu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  12. "New Survey Shows Strong Support for Energy Transition in Taiwan". rsprc.ntu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
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