[Politics] National Climate Change Adaptation Plan Focuses on Compound High-Temperature Risks
RtiTalk 小編17h ago
The government is deliberating the fourth phase of the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan. The Ministry of Environment held a public hearing on the draft plan today (2nd). Vice Minister of Environment Hsieh Yien-yu presided, stating that high temperatures bring compound risks and will be a key focus for adaptation, with planning to address scenarios of 40 degrees Celsius.
Regarding the ongoing deliberation of the fourth phase of the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, the Ministry of Environment, along with various ministries and agencies, invited local relevant authorities, scholars, experts, and civil society groups to hold public hearings on the "Draft Adaptation Action Plan for Areas Vulnerable to Climate Change Impacts (2027-2030)". The first hearing was held in Taichung on September 30th, today is the second in Taipei, and further hearings will be held in Kaohsiung and Hualien on the 5th and 7th to gather opinions. The plan is expected to be submitted to the Executive Yuan by the end of the year.
Hsieh Yien-yu noted that 2015-2025 are the hottest 11 years on record, and extreme climate events have been frequent globally and regionally in recent years. This includes warnings from the United Nations about the risks of global warming, and recent flood, typhoon, and high-temperature events experienced in Thailand, Nepal, and Taiwan. High temperatures not only affect health but also involve water resources, power supply, transportation, and social safety nets. They often occur simultaneously with other disasters like heavy rainfall, indicating that compound risks have become the norm and require a more long-term adaptation mindset.
Hsieh Yien-yu stated that climate change and extreme weather have become urgent, cross-disciplinary public issues requiring joint response from central and local governments.
According to the Ministry of Environment's briefing, based on current global climate development pathways, there is still a significant gap in achieving the global net-zero target by 2050. Short-term (2021-2040) global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius and mid-term (2041-2060) global warming of 2 degrees Celsius are already set to occur.
Hsieh Yien-yu said that the scenario setting for Taiwan's fourth phase of the National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan will continue to be based on global warming levels of 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, gradually integrating into a national-level framework. This includes 8 major domains, 25 goals, 50 strategies, and 119 action plans. The plan aims to consider a 40-degree Celsius high-temperature scenario, enabling ministries to better respond to actual risks in system design and implementation.
The 8 major domains listed by the Ministry of Environment include: life support infrastructure, water resources, land use, energy supply and industry, oceans and coasts, health, agricultural production, and ecosystems.
Hsieh Yien-yu also mentioned two adjustment directions: first, to independently organize related content from the original agriculture and biodiversity domains into an ecosystem domain to facilitate focused promotion; second, to upgrade land use from routine land planning to incorporate cultural heritage adaptation thinking, thereby more closely linking land use with adaptation work.
Hsieh Yien-yu pointed out that adaptation measures must not exclude anyone. Vulnerable groups more susceptible to climate impacts, such as children, the elderly, remote communities, and outdoor workers, must be included. Consideration must also be given to gender differences and the risk characteristics of different regions. He added that although various policy plans already address different issues, the inclusion of climate change factors necessitates a re-examination of impacts and risks to formulate more refined adaptation measures.
Hsieh Yien-yu said that countries are developing ways to measure the effectiveness of climate adaptation, with experiences from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan available for reference.
Taiwan will continue to collect international development trends and translate them into indicators suitable for local promotion, to assess the progress and effectiveness of various adaptation efforts, and to enhance Taiwan's ability to engage in international dialogue on adaptation outcomes.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=235309
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