Groups call for goals to reduce CO2

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on April 10, 2006. It reports that environmental groups in Taiwan recently issued a joint statement that called for the government to decide on goals for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. The government was also urged to set a timetable for the implementation of these goals in order to help Taiwan secure sustainable development.

The environmental groups were led by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union. They called for the government to seek concrete results in environmental protection efforts at the forthcoming national sustainable development conference, which is scheduled to take place on April 21.

The environmental groups expressed their hopes that the forthcoming conference will not turn out to be another "show of formality". Instead, they expected the government to come up with concrete goals for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, requirements for the private industrial sector, and an implementation timetable. These measures are imperative if Taiwan wants to abide by the Kyoto Protocol and control emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, before the government is able to come up with any concrete goals and timetables for the reduction of greenhouse gases, it should not approve any new high CO2-emission development subjects, including the eighth naphtha cracking plant and other big steel mills.