TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) reaffirmed on Thursday (Nov. 14) that the central government will continue to oversee environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for developments such as hotels and solar power projects. The Ministry of Environment (MOENV, 環境部) recently proposed a draft to local governments to shift EIA review authority for specific projects, including schools, hotels, and solar power. This proposal prompted questions about the transparency of such a shift.
Before the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (立法院社會福利及衛生環境委員會) reviewed the 2025 central government budget, Peng reiterated that the central government will retain control over these assessments. Peng noted that while some counties and cities perform well in local EIAs, others face workforce shortages. He mentioned that the central government entrusted local authorities with reviewing hotel projects in two cases this year.
Peng cautioned that weakening local EIAs could harm environmental protection, emphasizing the importance of establishing a robust system despite concerns about local political pressures. When asked about the transparency of local EIAs, Peng stated that the ministry will address these issues uniformly and complete a comprehensive review of the EIA process by the end of next year to identify existing problems.
Peng stressed his unwavering commitment to environmental protection and expressed hope for more open EIA procedures and broader participation from various sectors.