Climate change is reshaping economies, security systems, and the rhythm of daily life across the planet. Taiwan is no exception. The back-to-back typhoons and torrential rains that swept southern and eastern Taiwan in 2025 underscored how extreme weather now threatens development, infrastructure, and safety.

Yet amid these challenges, Taiwan has chosen not to stand apart from the global movement to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C. In 2025, we released a transparent Nationally Determined Contribution for 2035, setting clear goals for our low-carbon transition. Through regular publication of National Inventory and Biennial Transparency Reports, Taiwan demonstrates that it intends to shoulder its share of global responsibility—despite being excluded from the UNFCCC framework.

When President Lai Ching-te assumed office in 2024, his National Project of Hope set a vision linking economic renewal with a 2050 net-zero transition. His administration established five priorities: developing intelligent green energy, promoting digital and low-carbon industrial transformation, fostering sustainable daily life, ensuring active government leadership, and guaranteeing a just transition that protects vulnerable communities. That same year, the National Climate Change Committee was created to drive nationwide dialogue and coordination. Through this process, Taiwan set new interim reduction targets—26 to 30 percent by 2030 and 36 to 40 percent by 2035 from our base year—providing a credible path toward 2050.

To ensure progress, the Climate Change Response Act enshrines the 2050 net-zero target into law, while our updated Nationally Determined Contribution, aligned with Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, refines the path to reach it. We have raised our 2030 reduction goal to 28 percent (±2 percent) below 2005 levels and introduced milestones of 32 percent (±2 percent) by 2032 and 38 percent (±2 percent) by 2035. These markers ensure accountability, transparency, and the ability to adjust course as needed.

The Comprehensive Carbon Reduction Action Plan anchors this effort. It merges a bottom-up review by each ministry with a top-down strategy led by the National Council for Sustainable Development, which coordinates 20 flagship mitigation initiatives. These range from scaling solar and offshore wind, advancing geothermal and small hydro power, and expanding energy storage, to promoting low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, developing carbon capture and utilization, improving energy efficiency, decarbonizing state-owned industries, building near-zero carbon structures, electrifying transport, promoting sustainable aviation fuel, strengthening agricultural resilience, and advancing circular economy practices. Supporting these actions are six institutional “enablers”: technological innovation, climate finance, carbon pricing, adaptive regulation, workforce development, and community participation—together forming a national architecture for emission reduction.

In keeping with decisions adopted at COP28, Taiwan has voluntarily followed the same 2025 timeline as UNFCCC parties to submit its NDC 3.0 for 2035. Our updated contribution builds on ten pillars: equity and ambition; legal and institutional reform; smart green energy; industrial transformation; green finance and carbon pricing; sustainable, community-driven lifestyles; a just transition and green workforce; international cooperation; climate adaptation; and human rights and gender equality, including protections for children and youth. This framework aligns science, fairness, and inclusivity at the heart of our climate policy.

Public engagement was central to the NDC 3.0 process. The government convened stakeholders from business, academia, and civil society to review mitigation actions and ensure buy-in. Experts on gender, child welfare, and Indigenous rights contributed directly, while youth and NGO voices helped shape the draft. The result is a national plan that reflects both ambition and democratic legitimacy.

This year also marks a new milestone: the launch of Taiwan’s first carbon fee and pilot reporting system. The initial rate—around $10 per metric ton of CO₂ equivalent—creates a price signal for emissions while protecting competitiveness in trade-exposed sectors. With earmarked funds, self-determined reduction plans, and preferential treatment for firms investing in cleaner technologies, the carbon fee aims to reduce emissions by 37 million metric tons by 2030. It also lays the foundation for the next phase: the gradual introduction of an emissions trading system, which will evolve into a dual-track carbon pricing framework blending fee-based and market-based mechanisms. This structure reflects the needs of Taiwan’s industries while aligning our economy with emerging global carbon markets.

At the same time, Taiwan is preparing for engagement under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which enables international carbon cooperation. By advancing domestic carbon pricing and regulatory frameworks in parallel, Taiwan is building a model of responsible carbon-market participation consistent with its role as an export-driven economy deeply embedded in global supply chains.

Adaptation is the other pillar of our climate action. In line with Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, Taiwan operates a National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan on a four-year cycle, covering critical infrastructure, water management, land use, coasts, energy and industry, agriculture and biodiversity, and public health. Each local government develops context-specific plans, and annual progress reports are made public to ensure accountability. This year, we also launched the Heat Adaptation Strategy Alliance—a partnership among government agencies, scientists, and NGOs—to address the growing threat of extreme heat through coordinated public health and urban resilience measures.

Looking ahead to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the world marks five years since the Paris Agreement entered full force. Taiwan is aligning with this next global phase by submitting its NDC 3.0 and publishing its first Biennial Transparency Report, meeting the Article 13 transparency framework. These steps demonstrate the predictability and integrity of our climate policies.

Taiwan’s path forward is clear. We are pricing carbon, transforming industry, expanding adaptation, and embedding climate action into every level of governance. We do this not only to safeguard our own future but to contribute to the global effort to build a net-zero world. No country can succeed alone. Taiwan stands ready to work alongside others—in the spirit of COP30’s “Global Mutirão”—to advance the Paris Agreement and strengthen the planet’s collective response to the climate crisis.