TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) announced on Tuesday (Oct. 8) that it plans to determine which industries will qualify for carbon emission coefficient discounts by the first half of next year. Officials will base this decision on the latest industrial relation tables from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS, 主計總處) and discussions with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部).
On Monday, the ministry held its sixth carbon fee rate review council, proposing a standard carbon fee rate of NT$300 per ton, with preferential rates A and B set at NT$50 and NT$100, respectively. Deputy Minister Shih Wen-chen (施文真) stated that the ministry would consult the DGBAS's November report to define high carbon leakage sectors in Taiwan.
The ministry's regulations specify that high carbon leakage businesses can benefit from emission coefficient discounts in the carbon fee formula. However, it has not yet clarified which industries qualify.
Director Tsai Ling-yi (蔡玲儀) of the Department of Environmental Sanitation and Toxic Substance Management emphasized that all businesses, whether classified as high carbon leakage or not, can submit voluntary reduction plans, which are crucial for long-term carbon reduction.
According to the ministry's carbon fee guidelines, businesses that do not submit voluntary reduction plans can only deduct 25,000 tons of emissions before applying the standard rate. Tsai urged major emitters to prepare their reduction plans by June 30 next year, as required by the regulations.