Taiwan’s Environment Minister, Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明), revealed on Tuesday that the preferential rate for Taiwan’s carbon fee, to be implemented next year, may be set around NT$100 (US$3.10) per metric ton. The government’s review committee, which has set a general rate between NT$300 to NT$500 (US$9.30 to US$15.50) per metric ton, aims to gradually increase to NT$1,200 (US$37.30) or NT$1,800 (US$56) per metric ton by 2030.
In response to Peng’s statement, Citizen of the Earth, Taiwan member Cheng Tai-chun (鄭泰鈞), said in an interview on Wednesday that adopting a range of carbon fees is merely a temporary compromise to avoid pushback from corporations. Internationally, carbon fees generally start at a minimum of NT$500, or equivalent, with preferential rates no lower than NT$300. Cheng says that a preferential rate starting at NT$100 per metric ton is far too low. He adds that the foundation’s research shows at least NT$300 per metric ton is needed to gradually align with the 2030 target, while criticizing Peng's claim of a 40% carbon reduction by 2032 as overly ambitious.
Taiwan Climate Action Network (TCAN) Research Director Chao Chia-wei (趙家緯) also said in an interview that since the purpose of the carbon fee is to accelerate corporate emission reductions, the rate cannot be too low. He concluded that the actual rate needs further discussion.