In response to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the Executive Yuan, after discussions among experts, scholars, central and local government departments, and non-governmental organizations, approved the "National Environmental Protection Plan" on February 14th. This plan declares Taiwan's vision for achieving "carbon reduction and disaster reduction," "breathing freely," "enjoying clean water," "turning waste into resources," "zero forest loss," and "coexisting with nature" by 2030. The Executive Yuan approved the "National Environmental Protection Plan" on February 14th, 2020. This plan was primarily drafted within the framework of the Ministry of Environment and Resources, responding to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and considering domestic and international environmental protection trends and key issues. It outlines short-, medium-, and long-term implementation strategies and objectives, declaring Taiwan's commitment to achieving the visions of "carbon reduction and disaster reduction," "breathing freely," "enjoying clean water," "turning waste into resources," "zero forest loss," and "coexisting with nature" by 2030. The National Environmental Protection Plan is based on Article 10, Paragraph 2 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution, which states that "economic and scientific and technological development should be taken into account in conjunction with environmental and ecological protection," and the environmental protection strategies formulated under the Basic Environmental Law. It integrates relevant ministries, focusing on the overall environmental ecosystem, and proposes corresponding measures and mechanisms. The plan has been developed through multiple rounds of discussions among experts, scholars, government departments, local governments, and non-governmental organizations to reach a consensus. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) states that the plan is divided into five major areas: "Climate Action," "Environmental Quality," "Nature Conservation," "Green Economy," and "Sustainable Partnerships," encompassing 13 environmental issues. Key performance indicators (KPIs) have been set for tracking to promote national environmental protection efforts, protect environmental resources, and maintain ecological balance. The plan is expected to release implementation results annually through environmental white papers or appropriate channels. Detailed plan information can be found on the EPA website. As a member of the global village, Taiwan has a responsibility to work with other countries to maintain the peace, harmony, and mutually beneficial coexistence of the Earth, to protect people's living environment from pollution and damage, and to strive for sustainable development. This has been Taiwan's long-standing goal in environmental issues. The approval of this "National Environmental Protection Plan" aims to unite the efforts of government departments, businesses, organizations, and the public to jointly promote various environmental protection actions. It is believed that by 2030, environmental safety will be ensured, a circular economy model will shape green living, and ultimately, harmonious coexistence between humanity and the environment will be achieved. (Source: Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced today that he will require government agencies to use more recycled products. Despite continuing to refuse to do more to combat global warming, Canberra, previously criticized for its climate policies, is now hoping to mend ties with Pacific island nations. Scott Morrison angered Pacific island leaders last year by refusing to expand carbon emission reduction targets. Low-lying Pacific island nations are on the front lines of climate change, battling rising sea levels and forcing some residents to migrate to higher lands. Beijing has been actively strengthening economic ties with smaller Pacific nations in recent years, winning favor with its calls for action to combat climate change and challenging Australia's historical dominance in the region. However, Morrison announced today that Canberra will require government agencies to purchase products made from recycled resources to boost demand for recycled products. "We are a continent surrounded by oceans, our waterways are our lifeblood, and so are our Pacific families... This is a very important issue for our part of the world." Government data shows that Australia's domestic plastic recycling rate is only 12%. Source: Central News Agency, 30th Environmental Information Center

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (Wuhan pneumonia, COVID-19), China recently implemented provincial lockdowns, restricting people's movement and suspending industrial activities, which unexpectedly led to a significant reduction in China's carbon emissions. A similar situation has occurred in Italy. As the government announced a nationwide lockdown, many people were forced to stay at home, resulting in a significant reduction in air pollution over the Italian peninsula, especially in the northern regions of Italy, which were severely affected by the epidemic. According to multiple foreign media reports, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Sentinel-5P satellite, which monitors air pollution, has found a significant reduction in air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide emissions, across Italy, especially in the northern part of the peninsula. Claus Zehner, a member of the ESA Sentinel-5P team, pointed out that the data may vary slightly due to cloud cover and weather changes, "but we are very confident that the reduction in emissions is closely related to Italy's lockdown, given the significant reduction in traffic and industrial activity." ESA specifically created data on nitrogen dioxide emissions over Italy from January 1, 2019 to March 11, 2020. It clearly shows a sharp decrease in nitrogen dioxide levels in the Po River basin in northern Italy, a region with a large population and dense industrial population. Source: Environmental Information Center, Liberty Times

A Japanese water map app encourages people to bring reusable cups and use water dispensers, and can even calculate how many plastic bottles they've saved and how much carbon dioxide they've reduced. A startup launched Japan's first water map, encouraging people to simply bring their own reusable cups and find the nearest water dispenser on the map whenever they want a drink, all for free. The app can track all the water-filling activities a user does. Co-founder Louis said, "We just launched this new water-filling tracker four days ago, and this morning we tracked a reduction of about 900 plastic bottles. Our big goal this year is to reach 1 million." Japan is the world's second-largest producer of plastic packaging, after the United States. According to UN data, in 2014, the average Japanese person used more than 30 kilograms of plastic resources. With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for this summer, the G20 summit last June declared a commitment to reduce plastic use and planned to launch a program this year where people could exchange money for recycled plastic bags. However, this app has clearly outpaced governments, prompting people to change their lifestyles to reduce plastic consumption. Currently, the app is used in 30 countries worldwide and has been downloaded more than 30,000 times. Source: Environmental Information Centre

Plastic Rain: Microfibers Fall from the Sky in the Rocky Mountains New concerns are growing about the ubiquitous presence of plastic infiltrating the air, water, and soil. When Gregory Wetherbee was analyzing rainwater samples from the Rocky Mountains, he never expected to find plastic. "I expected to see mostly soil and mineral particles," said the U.S. Geological Survey investigator. Instead, he discovered microplastic fibers in various colors. This discovery, published in a recent study titled "Plastic Rain," has raised new concerns about the pervasive presence of plastic infiltrating the air, water, and soil. "I think the most important thing is to tell the American public that there is more plastic waste than we see; it's in rainwater, it's in snow. It's already part of our environment," Wetherbee said. Microscopic analysis of rainwater samples collected from Colorado revealed ghastly plastic fibers, as well as beads and fragments. This discovery startled Wetherbee, who was originally researching nitrogen pollution. "My research was purely accidental," he said, although it aligns with another recent study in the Pyrenees Mountains, which indicated that plastic particles can travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers with the wind. Other studies have also found microplastics in the deepest parts of the ocean, in British rivers and lakes, and in US groundwater. Sherri Mason, a microplastics researcher and sustainability coordinator at Pennsylvania State University's Berenices College, points out that litter is a major source. Over 90% of litter is not recycled and slowly degrades into increasingly smaller fragments. Mason says, "When you..."

Australia is the third-largest fossil fuel exporter after Russia and Saudi Arabia, according to a study by the Australian Institute. The study argues that Australia's claim of only 1.2% responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions masks its true impact on climate change. Australia's role as a leader in global fossil fuel trade is underestimated, with the study finding it to be the world's third-largest exporter and fifth-largest emitter of fossil fuels. Despite occasional political debates highlighting its 1.2% responsibility for global emissions, the left-leaning think tank, the Australian Institute, states that it lags behind only Russia and Saudi Arabia in fossil fuel exports. When exports are combined with domestic combustion, Australia's fossil fuel industry emits CO2 fifth, behind only China, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. The report's premise—that Australia's role in the climate crisis is larger than suggested by global greenhouse gas calculation rules—is not new, but it goes beyond simply comparing export emissions from different countries in previous analyses. [Chart: The Guardian; Source: Australian Institute] This report was released after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced criticism at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu for his limited response to the climate crisis and refusal to commit to a rapid transition away from coal. Both the Australian government and the opposition have emphasized the importance of the coal export industry to the economy and jobs. Tom Swann, a senior researcher at the institute, has questioned this, arguing that Australia's economy is more diversified and less dependent on fossil fuels compared to most carbon-exporting countries. The report indicates that Australia ranks 24th among all exporting countries, reflecting its...

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has once again mentioned "studying and formulating a timetable for phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles" after two years. Experts analyze that the announcement will accelerate the ban on gasoline-powered vehicles in certain sectors, such as logistics. For example, electric vehicles are now required for goods delivery within Beijing's Second Ring Road. According to a report by the mainland media outlet Economic Observer, the MIIT responded to a suggestion from the National People's Congress on the 20th regarding "studying and formulating a timetable for banning the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles to accelerate the construction of a strong automotive nation." The MIIT stated that it will support qualified regions and sectors in conducting pilot programs for urban public transportation systems, taxi replacement, and the establishment of no-gasoline-vehicle zones. Based on the success of these pilot programs, it will "coordinate and study the formulation of a timetable for phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles." This is not the first time the MIIT has mentioned "formulating a timetable for phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles." Back in September 2017, MIIT Vice Minister Xin Guobin first signaled this at the TEDA Forum. Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association, stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's recent announcement regarding the ban on gasoline-powered vehicles in certain sectors will accelerate the process. For example, in logistics, diesel trucks are currently prohibited from delivering goods within Beijing's Second Ring Road, requiring the use of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are also mandatory in areas such as landscaping and sanitation. Furthermore, Shenzhen has fully electrified its logistics vehicles and public buses. Regarding the passenger car sector, a matter of widespread consumer concern, Cui Dongshu believes, "Things affecting people's livelihoods must be handled with extreme caution." However, some regions and automakers have already begun taking action. In March 2019, Hainan released its "Clean Energy Vehicle Development Plan," stipulating that by 203...

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon and the world's richest man, issued a corporate climate pledge on the 19th to combat climate change. The pledge aims for companies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, 10 years earlier than the Paris Agreement's target. To achieve this, Amazon must drastically reduce its carbon emissions. Bezos, as a leading figure, invited other companies to sign the pledge, and many internet technology companies are expected to follow suit. The ultimate goal of the Climate Pledge is for companies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, meaning that the carbon dioxide emissions from their operations must be absorbed through methods such as planting trees, ultimately resulting in zero carbon emissions. However, using renewable energy to fundamentally reduce carbon emissions is a more practical approach. Bezos declared that Amazon will regularly measure and report carbon emissions, implement carbon reduction policies, and offset existing carbon emissions. By 2024, Amazon will use 80% renewable energy, and by 2030, it will use 100% renewable energy. Amazon currently uses 40% renewable energy, thanks to 15 solar and wind power plants. Carbon reduction is not easy for this e-commerce giant, as hardware facilities such as warehousing and logistics are essential equipment. In addition, Amazon

Human destruction of nature is accelerating, with over 7,000 more species added to the world's Red List of Threatened Species on the 18th. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned that human destruction of nature is causing species to face extinction at an "unprecedented" rate. The IUCN, the world's most important wildlife conservation organization, stated that from the rainforest canopy to the deep sea, representative species of primates, rays, fish, and trees are now listed as "critically endangered." The IUCN currently tracks over 105,000 species globally, of which approximately 28,000 are endangered. While individual biotas face specific threats, human activities such as overfishing and deforestation are the biggest contributors to the sharp decline in biodiversity. "Nature is dying at an unprecedented rate in human history," said Grethel Aguilar, Acting Director General of the IUCN. "We must recognize this fact; protecting biodiversity is in our interest." The IUCN has now placed several marine and freshwater fish species on its Red List as "Critically Endangered," the highest level of endangerment, with the next step being extinction. Among them, the wedgefish and giant guitarfish are currently the most endangered marine species. The new list also includes seven endangered primates, such as the Ghanaian primate, which lives in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Google will remove several toxic substances from its supply chain. Multinational technology company Google has pledged a circular economy strategy, including phasing out antimicrobials and making flame retardants safer in its consumer electronics products over the next four years. "Circular Google" aims to maximize the reuse of limited resources across the company's operations, products, and supply chain, with other markets to follow. The policy will promote "non-hazardous substances and safe chemicals to achieve a permanent product cycle." This includes consumer electronics products—such as Pixel phones and Chromebook laptops—and several supply chain goals, such as: - Using safer flame retardants across the entire product portfolio by 2030. - Eliminating antimicrobials across the entire product portfolio by 2030. - Contractually prioritizing the use and use of recycled materials by 2020. The concept of a circular economy—a redefinition of growth based on social benefit, encompassing the sustainable use of products and materials and zero-waste design—is a focus in Europe and elsewhere, but in the United States, it has so far focused on end-use factors such as recyclability. “If we’re going to allow materials to flow through business for longer periods, we need to design them to be safer for people and the environment because once we manufacture a product, we can’t change its chemistry,” said Michael Werner, a chemist at Google. Prioritizing the sharing of safe chemicals data, Google established these commitments in 2018 with a report on safe and healthy chemicals.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated that the five years from 2015 to 2019 are likely to be the warmest five years in recorded history. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases will trigger larger-scale global heat waves, glacier melt, sea level rise, increased ocean temperatures, and extreme weather in the future. The WMO stated last Friday (28th) that the global average temperature in 2018 had already risen by nearly 1°C compared to pre-industrial levels, leaving little time to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C and working towards 1.5°C. The WMO noted that global greenhouse gas concentrations are still increasing, and that carbon dioxide can persist in the air and oceans for centuries, continuing to cause rising temperatures and ocean acidification. WMO Secretary-General Taalas said, "The last time the Earth had such a high concentration of carbon dioxide was 3-5 million years ago. At that time, the temperature was 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than it is now, and the sea level was 10-20 meters higher than it is now." The trend of global warming has not changed. According to statistics from the WMO, the past four years have been the hottest four years on record. As the global warming trend shows no signs of weakening, this year is likely to become the fifth hottest year on record. The temperatures from January to May this year have set the third highest temperature record for the same period. According to statistics from the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, the Antarctic sea ice area in May this year was the smallest on record, and the Arctic sea ice area was

The United Nations warns that climate disasters are occurring weekly, with disaster reports urging developing countries to prepare for significant impacts. Climate disasters are happening at a weekly rate, yet they rarely attract international attention, and developing countries urgently need to prepare for the impacts, the UN warns. While cyclones like Idai that struck Mozambique and Kenneth, and the drought in India, have made international headlines, most “low-impact events” causing casualties, displacement, and damage are occurring much faster than expected. “This isn’t about the future, it’s about the present,” said Mami Mizutori, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction. This means that addressing the climate crisis is no longer a long-term issue, but something that must be addressed now. She stated, “People must talk more about resilience and endurance.” Climate-related disasters are estimated to cost $520 billion annually, but funding for infrastructure to combat the effects of global warming accounts for only 3%, or $2.7 trillion over the next 20 years. Mizutori stated, "This isn't a huge amount of money (in terms of infrastructure spending), but investors aren't doing enough. Resilience needs to become a commodity people will buy." This means that new infrastructure standards need to be normalized, such as housing, road and rail systems, factories, and electricity and water supply networks, making them less vulnerable to flooding, droughts, hurricanes, and extreme weather. Until now, much of the work on the climate crisis has focused on "mitigation"—the rhetoric of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, not on mitigating climate change.

[Earth Overshoot Day Arrives Early] Humans Use Up Earth's Annual Natural Resources in Just 7 Months. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) France states that the increasingly earlier "Earth Overshoot Day" reflects humanity's greed and predatory nature towards natural resources. According to calculations by the non-governmental organization Global Footprint Network (GFN), humanity used up the Earth's 2019 natural resource quota on July 29th, several days earlier than August 1st last year. For the next five months, people will have to live within a limited resource "quota." According to reports from French media outlet Le Monde and other foreign media, the first recorded "Earth Overshoot Day" (EOD), also known as "Ecological Debt Day," was December 29th in 1970, fell on August 1st last year (2018), and this year it arrived three days earlier on July 29th, setting a new record for the earliest EOD. Earth Overshoot Day, or Ecological Debt Day, aims to calculate the date each year when Earth's ecological resources reach a deficit. Since 1970, population growth and average demand have both accelerated the rate of Earth's resource consumption, exceeding its regeneration rate. Since then, the rate of consumption has accelerated annually. In 1988, Ecological Debt Day fell on October 15th. In 1998, it fell on September 30th, in 2008 it fell on August 15th, and in 2018...

Climate crisis could trigger mass famine and migration! Latest report: Earth can still be saved, but this is necessary… Global warming and the climate change crisis are worsening daily. A new UN report released on the 8th focuses on the impact on “land,” showing that global land resources are facing unprecedented threats, severely impacting humanity’s ability to “feed itself,” and leading to more frequent large-scale migrations, causing political instability and conflict in many countries—including the United States and Europe. The homes of 500 million people are undergoing “desertification.” This report, co-authored by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and over 100 scholars from 52 countries, points out that nearly three-quarters of the world’s ice-free land is affected by human activities, and the homes of 500 million people are undergoing “desertification.” Soil loss is 10 to 100 times faster than it was formed, greenhouse gas emissions from chemical fertilizers have increased ninefold in half a century, and the rate of increase in average surface temperature is twice that of the global average. On August 8, 2019, IPCC President Lee Hoi-sung released a report pointing out that global warming and climate change are severely impacting human land use and food production (AP). Extreme weather events caused by climate change further exacerbate the situation, disrupting and reducing human food supplies. Currently, more than 10% of the global population suffers from malnutrition. Food shortages will force more people to leave their homes and cross borders. Between 2010 and 2015, droughts struck three small Central American countries—El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala—leading to a surge of people migrating to the United States and other countries.