Report on Taiwan’s Climate Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Climate Vulnerability and Commitment to Global Goals

Taiwan is experiencing significant impacts from climate change, as documented in the Climate Change in Taiwan: National Scientific Report 2024, which indicates a considerable rise in average air temperatures across major cities since 1980. The nation’s 2025 ranking of 60th on the Climate Change Performance Index highlights critical areas for improvement, particularly in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and renewable energy policy. Despite its exclusion from the United Nations since 1971, Taiwan has demonstrated a proactive commitment to global sustainability frameworks. The establishment of the Executive Yuan’s National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) in 1997 signaled an early alignment with the UN’s agenda, forming a foundation for its ongoing efforts to address SDG 13 (Climate Action) through domestic policy and international cooperation.

Governmental Framework and Policy Alignment with SDGs

Legislative and Educational Initiatives

Taiwan has established a robust framework to mitigate climate change, directly supporting several Sustainable Development Goals. Key actions include:

• Legal Framework for SDG 13: The amendment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act into the Climate Change Response Act in 2023 created a comprehensive legal basis for climate governance. The Ministry of Environment subsequently promulgated six supporting laws to enforce this framework.
• Education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4): The Ministry of Education has actively organized and subsidized workshops and activities based on the UN’s Education for Sustainable Development program, aiming to increase public awareness and capacity for climate action.
• National Adaptation Plan: The approval of the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan (2023-2026) aims to enhance Taiwan’s systemic capabilities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, a core target of SDG 13.

President Lai’s National Resilience Plan

Under the leadership of President Lai Ching-te, sustainable development has been elevated to a matter of national public concern. His “national resilience” plan addresses climate change as a primary challenge, alongside public health and defense. To implement this vision, President Lai established three presidential committees, including the National Climate Change Committee. This committee serves as a critical platform for advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by convening government officials, scholars, industry leaders, and civil society. The committee’s focus areas are directly aligned with multiple SDGs:

1. Energy Efficiency and Green Technology: Promoting optimized energy consumption and enhancing Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global green supply chain supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
2. Green Transition for Prosperity: Framing the net-zero transition as an opportunity for long-term national prosperity aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 13.
3. International Cooperation: President Lai has stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation to address climate change, viewing it as a transnational issue that transcends political conflicts and requires a multilateral approach consistent with SDG 17.

Public-Private Partnerships and Technological Innovation (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

Fostering Green Business Opportunities

The Taiwanese government actively promotes the development of climate change technologies as a business opportunity, a strategy embedded in its legal and policy frameworks. Article 17 of the Climate Change Response Act mandates government assistance for developing climate adaptation technologies. Furthermore, Taiwan’s 2050 net-zero emissions roadmap identifies technology R&D in decarbonization, sustainable energy, and circularity as a core governance foundation, emphasizing public-private partnerships. This approach is designed to leverage private sector resources to maximize the benefits of collaboration, directly contributing to SDG 9 and embodying the spirit of SDG 17.

Industry-Led Climate Coalitions

Taiwan’s private sector has demonstrated a strong commitment to climate action through collaborative platforms:

• Taiwan Climate Partnership (TCP): Established in 2022 by eight leading technology companies, including TSMC and Delta Electronics, the TCP aims to implement net-zero goals throughout the supply chain. Its 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership (Japan-CLP) is a clear example of cross-border private sector cooperation under SDG 17.
• Taipei Computer Association (TCA): As Taiwan’s largest industrial association, the TCA emphasizes carbon reduction and international cooperation. Its engagement with the Thailand Trade and Economic Office to promote net-zero policies and green technology showcases how industry associations can act as catalysts for achieving climate goals in line with SDG 17.

Multilateral Cooperation and Challenges

Overcoming Political Exclusion

Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN presents a significant challenge to its full participation in global climate governance. Although a Taiwanese delegation has attended the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) as an NGO observer since 1995, this status limits its influence. The growing support from diplomatic allies and like-minded partners for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement underscores the international recognition of the importance of inclusive multilateralism for achieving SDG 13. Enhancing these partnerships is crucial for Taiwan’s pursuit of national resilience and timely access to critical climate information.

A Whole-of-Society Approach

The National Climate Change Action Guideline institutionalizes a cooperative model by mandating the establishment of a communication platform between central and local governments, as well as public and private sectors. This principle ensures the practical execution of localized adaptation and mitigation measures, reflecting a domestic application of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 17.

Conclusion: An Integrated Strategy for Sustainable Development

Taiwan is implementing a comprehensive and integrated strategy to combat climate change that is deeply aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through a combination of robust legislative frameworks, high-level government commitment, and dynamic public-private partnerships, Taiwan is actively pursuing SDG 13 (Climate Action). The emphasis on technological innovation drives progress on SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Central to this entire effort is a firm belief in multilateralism, which positions SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) as the key enabler of its national and international climate ambitions. While political obstacles persist, Taiwan’s multi-level cooperative approach demonstrates a resilient and determined effort to contribute to global sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The entire article is centered on Taiwan’s efforts to address climate change. It mentions rising air temperatures, the Climate Change Performance Index, the establishment of the National Climate Change Committee, and the goal of achieving “national resilience” against global warming. Specific policies like the Climate Change Response Act and the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan are direct responses to the challenges outlined in SDG 13.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • The article highlights Taiwan’s “very poor ratings for energy use” and “weak scores for renewable energy.” In response, President Lai’s initiatives emphasize “energy efficiency” and “green technology.” The “2050 net-zero emissions roadmap” and the focus on “decarbonization” and “sustainable energy” technologies are directly linked to promoting clean and sustainable energy sources.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The article discusses leveraging climate change as a “business opportunity” by developing new technologies. It mentions the government’s role in assisting “the development of technologies for climate change adaptation” and promoting “public-private partnerships.” The establishment of the Taiwan Climate Partnership (TCP) by leading technology companies to implement net-zero goals in supply chains exemplifies the focus on making industries more sustainable and innovative.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • A core theme of the article is the need for cooperation. It details partnerships at multiple levels: transnational cooperation with Pacific islands and like-minded partners, public-private partnerships between the government and companies like Pegatron, business-to-business cooperation like the MOU between TCP and the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership, and collaboration between central and local governments.

5. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article explicitly states that Taiwan has sought to mitigate climate change through education. It mentions that the “Ministry of Education (教育部) has organized and subsidized several activities and workshops for climate change education that draw from the United Nations Education for Sustainable Development program.”

6. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article notes that President Lai identified “sudden outbreaks of infectious diseases” as one of Taiwan’s “relentless challenges” alongside climate change. The establishment of the “Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee” is a direct government response to build resilience in public health, which aligns with the goals of SDG 3.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. This is evident in the approval of the “National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan (2023-2026)” and President Lai’s overarching theme of “national resilience.”
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article details this through the amendment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act to the Climate Change Response Act and the creation of “Taiwan’s 2050 net-zero emissions roadmap.”
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. This is directly addressed by the Ministry of Education’s activities and workshops on climate change education.

2. Targets for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This is implied by Taiwan’s “weak scores for renewable energy” and the subsequent focus on “green transition” and “sustainable energy” in its net-zero roadmap.
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This is a primary focus of the National Climate Change Committee, which explores “how Taiwan can optimize energy consumption” and emphasizes “energy efficiency.”

3. Targets for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. This is reflected in the TCP’s aim to “implement Taiwan’s net-zero goal in supply chains” and the government’s promotion of “green technology” to enhance “international competitiveness in the global supply chain.”
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors. The article states that “technology R&D is listed as one of Taiwan’s governance foundations” and revolves around “decarbonization, sustainable energy, and circularity.”

4. Targets for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Target 17.7: Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies. The Taipei Computer Association’s (TCA) visit to the Thailand Trade and Economic Office to “promote close cooperation with Thailand regarding net-zero policies and green technology” is a clear example.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article emphasizes this through Taiwan’s work with “Pacific islands and like-minded partners,” its participation in COP as an NGO observer, and the MOU between Taiwanese and Japanese business coalitions.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. This is a central strategy, highlighted by the “communication platform on which to build partnerships between the central and local governments, as well as cooperation between public and private sectors.” The National Climate Change Committee itself is a multi-stakeholder platform involving government, scholars, industry, and civil society.

5. Targets for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The article directly supports this by mentioning the Ministry of Education’s subsidized “activities and workshops for climate change education that draw from the United Nations Education for Sustainable Development program.”

6. Targets for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The creation of the “Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee” to deal with challenges like “sudden outbreaks of infectious diseases” directly aligns with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 13

   • Number of national policies and plans adopted: The article mentions the Climate Change Response Act, the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan (2023-2026), and “Taiwan’s 2050 net-zero emissions roadmap.”
   • Greenhouse gas emissions levels: The article refers to Taiwan’s “very poor ratings for… greenhouse gas emissions” on the Climate Change Performance Index, implying that tracking these emissions is a key metric.
   • Number of educational programs: The mention of “several activities and workshops for climate change education” serves as a qualitative indicator of progress in education.

2. Indicators for SDG 7

   • Energy efficiency improvements: The focus on optimizing “energy consumption” implies that metrics on energy use per unit of GDP would be a relevant indicator.
   • Share of renewable energy: Taiwan’s “weak scores for renewable energy” suggest that the percentage of renewables in the energy mix is a monitored indicator.

3. Indicators for SDG 9

   • Investment in R&D for green technologies: The government’s plan to assist and encourage development in climate change adaptation technologies implies that government and private sector R&D spending are key indicators.
   • Number of companies committed to sustainability: The formation of the “Taiwan Climate Partnership” by “eight leading global information and communications technology companies” is a concrete indicator of private sector engagement.

4. Indicators for SDG 17

   • Number of international agreements and partnerships: The “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership” is a specific indicator.
   • Participation in global forums: The continuous participation of a “Taiwanese delegation” at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) since 1995 is an indicator of global engagement.
   • Number of multi-stakeholder platforms: The establishment of the “National Climate Change Committee” involving government, academia, industry, and civil society is an indicator of domestic partnership building.

Summary Table

Source: ketagalanmedia.com