The Case for Taiwan’s Meaningful Participation in the UNFCCC

  1. Foreword

The 15thSession of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) will be held in CopenhagenfromDecember 7 to 18this year to discuss a post-Kyoto framework and formulate the world’s carbon reduction targets beyond 2012.

Although international circumstanceshave led to Taiwan’sexclusionfrom the UNFCCC and related mechanisms, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) hasneverthelessbeen pushingits own environmental protection legislation, beginning withthe Water Pollution Control Actin 1974. The Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration(EPA) has beenvoluntarilypromotingand implementinginternational conventions and protocols since its establishment in 1987. We believe that,by sharing with the international communityTaiwan’s experiences and achievements accumulated over the last 35 years, we can make significant contributions to global environmental protection efforts.

  1. Taiwan needs to participate in the UNFCCC and the post-Kyoto mechanism

1. Taiwan’s exclusion for political reasons is contraryto the spiritof the UNFCCC

The UNFCCC preamble acknowledges“thatthe global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate response.”Given that Taiwanis not a UNFCCC contracting party, it has had to participate in COPmeetings as a non-governmental organization(NGO) observer under the name Industrial Technology Research Institute(ITRI)since 1995.This NGO statusonly allows Taiwanto partake in UNFCCC peripheralevents, which is neither effective nor appropriate. The UNFCCC Secretariat unilaterallydecidedto listITRI under the name “Hsinchu, China”, and continues to do so despite our repeated protests that thisis inconsistent with the realityin the Taiwan Strait and should be changed.This inappropriatelistingnot only goes against the Convention’sspirit, but dampens the enthusiasm and expectations of the people of Taiwanwith respect to their effective participationin the UNFCCC, as well as other international conventionsand organizations.

Most importantly, Taiwan’sinability toparticipate in either the discussions over thepost-Kyoto mechanism orthe internationalcarbon market hindersthe development of Taiwan’s industries.

  1. Taiwanand its environment arevulnerable to climate change

Taiwan is a densely populated island that is extremely vulnerable to the abnormal weather events and rising sea levels associated with climate change. In August this year, Taiwan was devastated by Typhoon Morakot, the deadliest typhoon in recorded history. In just four days, a total of 2,686mmof rain fell in the mountainous areasof Central and Southern Taiwan, the heaviest rain inover 50 years. The resulting floods and landslides caused the severe loss of life and property. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events and rising sea levels caused by global warming is endangering Taiwan’s environment and very survival.The fact that Taiwan is unable to use UNFCCC resources to formulate its own adaptation strategies, coupledwith its exclusion from the international response framework, weakens its attempts to meet the challenges posed byglobal warming and climate change. Taiwan desperately needs to be included in the disaster early warning system, to have access to real-time information and to be part of climate change adaptation mechanisms.

  1. Taiwan needs to avoid the negative impactsonits economy and trade

If Taiwan isexcluded from the post-Kyoto framework, denied access to carbon trading markets and unable to offset the high economic costsofcarbon reduction, its industrieswill lose not onlytheir competitive edge, but also the incentive to help Taiwan develop a green industrial structure and become a low-carbon society. Therefore,for Taiwan to cope with the need to reduce its carbon emissionin the post-Kyoto framework, it mustpartake in the Convention on matters related to environmental sustainability. Likewise, itmust be included in intergovernmental cooperationthatfacilitates the exchange of information and policy ideas, as well as joint efforts on Green House Gas (GHG) reduction and adaptation.

Moreover, almost all WTO members are contracting partiestothe UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, yet Taiwan is not. As WTOtrade rulespermit countries to impose tariffs on imports due to environmental protection concerns, Taiwanwould suffer from unfair trade treatment that adversely affectsitstradeand industries.

  1. Taiwan is animportant part of theworld economy and should be able to providedirectinputto the UNFCCC

Consensus on the post-Kyoto framework and carbon reduction targets at COP-15will establish a newglobal order in terms of the economy, trade, transportation and energy. As the world’s 20thlargest economy and 18thlargest trading country, Taiwan’s economic activityhas a direct bearing on the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and is inextricably linked to global economic and trade growth. Taiwan should thereforenot be excluded from the UNFCCC.

  1. If included in the UNFCCCas an observer, Taiwan can make contribution tothe international community

1. Taiwan’s inclusion will help make the global mechanism to prevent carbon leakage more comprehensive

According to the 2009 Key World Energy Statistics released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Taiwan ranks as the 22ndlargest emitter of CO2overall, and the 18thlargest per capita.Taiwan is capableofassumingits responsibilityto reduce emissions under the Convention. It thereforelooks forward to enjoying the right tocontribute to the global community, cooperatewith other countries, and share knowledge, experience, technologies and adaptation resources. By assuming its“common but differentiated responsibilities”andtaking “nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA)”, Taiwancan jointhe fight against global warming and makevaluablecontributioninthe post-Kyotoera.

  1. Taiwan canhelp contribute to international cooperation on funding and technologies for climate change adaptation

Taiwan’s rapid and steady economic development over the past few decades hasoften been hailed as the “Taiwan miracle” by the international community.Through transformingits economy frombeing based on traditional industries tobeing based on electronic andhigh-tech industries, Taiwanhas become a key global production hub. Currently, Taiwan is readjusting its focus to become an important base for the R&D, production, supply, planning and operations of value-added industries.

If allowed to participate in UNFCCC mechanisms, Taiwan will be able to employ its precious resources more effectively.With Taiwanese enterprises positioned all over the world, we can makeClean Development Mechanism (CDM) investments wherever needed and enter the international carbon market so as to help reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Meanwhile, through public-private partnerships (PPP), Taiwancan help provide funding and technologies for cleaner economic developmentaround the world, and assist developing countries with achievingsustainable development while meeting their economic, social and environmental objectives.

  1. Taiwan’sconsiderableeffortstoward mitigating climate change have been successful

1. Efforts to become a responsiblestakeholder in the international community

Taiwan has honored the spirit of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on the control of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) under the framework of the Rio Declaration, the Basel Convention on the control of cross-border transportation of hazardous waste,and the Stockholm Convention on the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).Taiwan’s proactive and pragmaticcommitment to key international conventions and organizations, as well as sustainable development, is evident.

  1. Effortsto codify key international environmental goals

Taiwanhas been enacting related legislation and meeting international standards through financial and technological inputs. For example, Taiwan has established a dedicated office for GHG management, passed the Renewable Energy Development Act, and drafted the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill and the Energy Tax Bill. The government hasalso requested that all major development projectsundergo an environmental impact assessment,and either reduceGHG emissions ordeviseoffsets. Similarly, Taiwan has initiated a national GHG registry platform, a voluntary GHG reduction program for industries,and national campaigns on carbon reduction and energy conservation. Even before non-Annex I countries agreed on reduction objectives, Taiwanhad established performance standards and a cap-and-trade system to be included in its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill, which will be implemented in phases. Thisshows that Taiwanis committed to attaining policy objectives and adopting institutional mechanismson environmental sustainability.

  1. Achievements

Ourachievements are not accidental, but rather an expression of the values Taiwan has long held.We have developed stringent environmental standards and are committedto protecting the environment and reducing pollution. Our efforts havematured and met international standardsin such areas as air quality improvement, wastewater treatment, river restoration, waste treatment, toxic substances management, environmental impact assessment of industrial development and E-management. Furthermore, Taiwan has attained a proper garbage disposal rate of 99%, and 40% of refuse is recycled. In recent years, the policyofbuilding environmental science parks has reaped economic benefits andimprovedthe environmentin neighboring communities. In addition, the conservation and management of our forests have significantly expanded forest coverage. Both policies have contributed to Taiwan’s carbon reduction.

  1. Conclusion

Although Taiwan has long been excluded from the UNFCCC and related mechanisms, we remain committedto assuming our responsibilities and obligations as apart of theglobal community. We hope that, while the international community is formulating a new agreement on responding to climate change, it can fully support Taiwan’s participation in COP as an observer.Taiwan, like all other countries,should be afforded the opportunity to participate in global mechanisms, negotiations and activities aimed at reducing carbon emissions, and preventing global warmingand environmental disaster.

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