Taiwan cuts carbon emissions by 3% in 2023
- STIC CEGIR
- 19 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Taiwan’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.02% in 2023 compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Environment reported.
According to a press release, gross emissions totaled 278.63 million metric tons, while carbon sinks accounted for 21.73 million tonnes, bringing net emissions down to 256.9 million tonnes. Carbon dioxide made up 95.86% of total emissions, followed by methane and nitrous oxide, per CNA.
The energy sector, which contributes roughly 90% of Taiwan’s total emissions, saw a 2.94% reduction from 2022 — a 7.64 million-tonne cut — attributed to lower fuel consumption and a cleaner power mix. The waste sector posted the sharpest percentage drop, down 5.7%, due to decreased landfill and wastewater emissions.
Taiwan’s carbon intensity, or CO2 emissions per GDP unit, fell to NT$0.0114 per kilogram, a 4.14% year-on-year decline and 44.62% below 2005 levels, reflecting improved energy efficiency.
Wen Yu-yung (溫育勇), head of the Ministry of Environment’s net-zero promotion division, said most emissions stem from fuel combustion in industry and transportation, while methane is mainly linked to livestock and waste.
Though not a United Nations member, Taiwan has published national emissions inventories since 2015 in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. The data is cited by international institutions, including Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
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