TAIPEI (TVBS News)—The Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) on Wednesday (July 17) stated that the transportation sector is not on the list of targets for the carbon levy and that it is not appropriate to link the ticket price hike issue with the carbon fee levy.
The MOENV plans to impose a carbon fee on significant carbon emitters to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The proposal, announced on April 29, excludes the transportation sector from the fee, despite media reports suggesting it could increase operational costs for the fully electrified Taiwan Railway.
The ministry emphasized that the draft regulations for charging carbon fees target electric power and manufacturing industries that emit over 25,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. The MOENV stated that the carbon fee regulation encourages substantial reductions in business emissions.
On July 5, the fourth carbon fee review committee presented various rate scenarios, indicating that carbon fees would have minimal impact on the overall economy and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The ministry clarified that power companies would mainly bear the cost of greenhouse gas emissions from their internal electricity use, limiting the potential to pass these costs on to consumers.
The MOENV also pointed out that the carbon fee is a crucial step toward a carbon pricing system, which aims to promote significant emission reductions. The fee rates are still under review, and mechanisms to further reduce greenhouse gases are being developed.
