TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — Environmental organizations in central Taiwan have announced plans for a rally against air pollution and global warming. The event is scheduled for Sunday (Dec. 24) at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Taichung City Council building. They are demanding a "coal-free central Taiwan."
The rally will feature legislative candidates from all parties across five counties and cities. It specifically calls on Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen to take immediate action in support of the coal phase-out at the Taichung Power Plant by 2026.
Central Taiwan bears the burden of over 60% of the nation's coal-fired power generation. It has long suffered from pollution stemming from the Taichung Power Plant, Dragon Steel Corporation, Mailiao Power Plant, and petrochemical facilities.
Yueh Hsiang-wen, executive director of Taichung's "Fight for our Land" alliance, highlighted that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has recommended that developed countries achieve coal phase-out by 2030 to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Taiwan's current energy policy does not align with global trends, as presidential candidates propose an energy-use proportion that still includes 14 to 20% coal by 2030.
However, data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) suggests that increased generation from natural gas and renewable sources would allow for a full coal phase-out at Taichung Power Plant by 2026, a decade earlier than Taipower's 2035 claim.
Local governments across seven central counties and cities have faced criticism for insufficient efforts to reduce coal use. Environmental groups are urging residents not to wait another 12 years for a healthier environment and are calling on regional leaders to issue a joint statement in support of a coal-free power plant by 2026 during the Dec. 24 rally.
