Asia LEDS Partnership Supports Chinese Taipei’s Energy Transition and Climate Actions towards Net Zero 2050

（Photo: Opening Ceremony, 2023 Exchange Forum on Asia LEDS Strategic Partnership, Photo credit: Ministry of Economic Affairs）

Echoing COP28's efforts to strengthen the global 'decarbonization' process, and its focus on accelerating energy transition and concrete implementation of climate actions, the Ministry of Economic Affairs held the fourth 'Exchange Forum on Asia LEDS Partnership (ALP)' during the 2023 Taiwan Climate Action Expo (TWCAE) on October 22, 2023, looking ahead to the next phase of a zero-carbon economy era in Asia.

With around 150 attendees from the interested public and relevant professional representatives participating in-person and online, experts from the ALP network, MOEA and industries in Taiwan shared their observations on the challenges and opportunities in facilitating energy transition and net-zero ecosystem in the APAC region.

Deputy Director-General Wu Chih-Wei of Energy Administration, MOEA, stated in his opening speech that Taiwan has been actively promoting net-zero and energy transition to meet the constantly changing demands of the global socio-economic environment. One of the key steps is the restructuring of MOEA organization this September, the Energy Administration has evolved from a regulatory enforcer to a promoter of sustainable energy, supporting to enhance the industry's competitiveness in achieving net-zero.

The Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan Dr. Tzu-Leun Lin pointed out that the government has allocated a total of NTD$96.4 billion in funding to achieve the 2050 net-zero target. This funding is a crucial driving force for accelerating carbon reduction actions of 12 key strategies. He further stressed the importance of peer-learning and knowledge exchange with stakeholders and international peers,  and maintaining continuous support from key international partners such as the ALP in this endeavor.

In addition, representing one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, Director-General Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav of India-Taipei Association also expressed India's commitment to net-zero and combating climate change, and expectation to expand and deepen cooperation between Taiwan and India in low-carbon and net-zero transition efforts.

ALP Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Emani Kumar, shared ALP’s recent initiatives in building low-carbon capacity and ICLEI's efforts in net-zero carbon reduction in the APAC region. This includes specific actions at the national and local levels in areas such as energy transition, clean transportation, low-carbon and climate adaptation.

In the "Sustainable Energy Planning" session, Deputy Director-General Wu from the Energy Administration, Shah Zulfiqar Haider, CEO of Engineering Management and Infrastructure Consulting Company, and Dr. James Wang, Vice President of Industrial Technology Research Institute, shared their observation of the net zero implications, along with case stories, technological innovations, and pilot strategies in energy transition in both Taiwan and the broader Asia region.

In the session on "Net-Zero Driving Green Growth," Balasubramanian V S , the Joint Director of BIRD-NABARD Bankers Institute of Rural Development – National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Dr. Je-Liang Liou, the Director of the Center for Green Economy, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), shared their observations and insights on the development of carbon credit, carbon voluntary offset program and carbon market in India and Taiwan respectively.