Home to Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan City is not only the industrial capital of Taiwan but also the municipality with the highest birth rate, the youngest population, and the largest number of foreign nationals among the six major municipalities in Taiwan. Its diverse ethnic groups have created an abundant talent pool and high production value. Ever since the 2050 net-zero target was brought forth in COP 26, Taoyuan City Government has been delineating the net-zero pathway for the city. Based on the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the evaluation of future trends of economic and population growth, the city government has formulated strategies to reduce half of the city’s carbon emissions by 2030 and proposed its pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050.
With one third of Taiwan’s top 500 enterprises located in Taoyuan, the city government focuses on industrial transformation as its main target through measures such as promoting clean energy, joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, etc. By 2030, the city will gradually phase out the use of coal with a carbon-reduction target of four million tons. The city government has also prioritized its focus on developing industries with low pollution, low energy consumption, low water usage, and high added-value (Three Lows and One High).
The second aspect of the city government’s efforts is the promotion of green transportation vehicles. To encourage the use of public transportation, the city government has rolled out policies such as the “30 Kilometers of Happy Rides” and the favorable NT$1,200 monthly transit pass for commuters in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei, and Taoyuan. In so doing, the city government aims to motivate 20% of the current motorized commuters to switch to public transportation. The use of electric freight vehicles is also promoted across the city with an aim to increase the sale of electric scooters by 40% and replace 30% of the fossil fuel vehicles in the city with electric ones. Taoyuan’s well-rounded industrial clusters have attracted high-tech companies from home and abroad. The city’s industrial supply chains, economy and trade, and low-carbon technology are also strengthened by the international airport. With 80% of warehousing and logistics companies operating in Taoyuan, it is only fitting to promote green transportation, introduce a smart warehousing system, and create a livable environment that will help foster the development of industrial districts.
The third highlight of the city government’s efforts is the promotion of green energy and energy conservation. As the momentum to promote renewable energy continues to increase, energy storage facilities are also subsidized across the city to help secure the supply and demand of green energy. Taoyuan City maintains its crown as the city with the highest solar PV installation capacity in Northern Taiwan.
Taoyuan values the development of its population and industrial clusters. Demonstrating its determination to become the first city in Taiwan to achieve net-zero emission and carbon reduction, Taoyuan spares no efforts in promoting its net-zero pathway as it continues to encourage citizens to embrace a green lifestyle, facilitate industrial transformation, and encourage enterprises to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. Taoyuan is on the pathway to a solid and sustainable future.
