TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) assured the public on Thursday (Aug. 15) that the upcoming carbon fee would affect housing prices by less than 1%, countering claims from construction industry leaders that it could cause 5% to 15% increase.
Speaking on POP Radio with host Huang Wei-han (黃暐瀚), Peng urged developers not to use the carbon fee as an excuse to raise prices. He also noted that the rise in steel prices has been marginal, further debunking the justification for significant price hikes.
Peng pledged that the ministry would strive to prevent inflation as he acknowledged how various industries might react to the upcoming carbon fees. He called the public to report any developers claiming imminent price hikes due to the carbon fee to the Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部).
Addressing the 2050 net-zero pathway, the environment minister outlined the ministry's goal to reduce emissions by 24% with a margin of error of one percentage point by 2030, compared to 2005. He hoped to present a feasible plan to exceed the 2030 target in the coming months.
