Taiwan commits to sustainability despite COP30, UN exclusion

Despite being barred from formally participating in COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November, Taiwan continues to further sustainability transitions and climate participation, the country's government has said.

Although it is excluded from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Taiwan's Ministry of Environment (MOE) held a bilingual press conference in November to tell the world that Taiwan has approved its new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 targets.

Taiwan is not a signatory nation of the Paris Agreement because it is excluded from the United Nations (UN). UN Resolution 2758, passed on October 25, 1971, acknowledged the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China in the United Nations and removed the Republic of China’s (Taiwan’s) delegates from the organization.

Taiwan's ambitious NDC3.0 targets updated

Taiwan's Ministry of Environment stated that the Paris Agreement requires that all signatory nations detail their post-2020 climate efforts.

The ministry said that these disclosures are expansive, encompassing greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, definitive reduction targets, and climate change adaptation measures, all under a mechanism requiring updated and enhanced submissions at least every five years. The latest iteration, the 2035 NDC, dubbed NDC3.0, was mandated for submission before the commencement of COP30.

As of November 6th, a total of 72 contracting parties had formally provided their NDC3.0, collectively representing approximately 62% of global emissions.

The MOE stressed Taiwan's devoted commitment, noting that the nation has moved in lockstep with international benchmarks, submitting and updating its NDC since 2020, and that the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's executive branch of government, formally ratified the NDC3.0 on Nov. 3.

The MOE delineated Taiwan's target of achieving a net reduction in national greenhouse gas emissions of 38%+2% by 2035 relative to the baseline year. This ambitious move is intended to project Taiwan's climate action to the international community, simultaneously seeking outreach and cooperation in the global climate movement.

Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明), Minister of Environment and a meteorologist, wrote in an opinion piece at The Diplomat that Taiwan has inaugurated the Comprehensive Carbon Reduction Action Plan, an initiative that operates through a dual managerial framework.


The Plan employs a bottom-up review whereby Taiwan's government ministries are tasked with optimizing mitigation programs, complemented by a top-down strategy in which the National Council for Sustainable Development must identify and coordinate 20 flagship mitigation actions.

Claire Lai (賴湘絜), Co-Chair of Energy and Environment Committee at the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT), told TCN that Taiwanese companies will begin paying carbon fees and gradually transition to a carbon emissions trading system in 2026.

Lai added that the Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange is already operational, but the market is still developing. Therefore, the ECCT recommends providing a clear roadmap and policy guidance, formally incorporating carbon reduction targets into national regulations, and ensuring alignment with international standards to steadily promote corporate carbon reduction.

In a Nov. 22 lecture at the Center for Public and Business Administration Education of Taiwan's National Chengchi University, former chair of Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Huang Tien-mu (黃天牧) said that even if COP30 does not reach a formal conclusive consensus due to the different considerations and interests of each country, multilateral conversation is still vital and beneficial.

Taiwan's exclusion from the global convention  

TVBS reported that Taiwan's Minister Peng had previously participated in COP negotiations 11 times in a civilian capacity. However, due to his current status as a Taiwanese official in a national government that is not recognized by the UNFCCC, he is unable to participate in ministerial-level negotiations in 2025.

The report further said that although Peng and other Taiwanese officials were unable to participate in the COP summit in an official capacity, Peng stated that this would not affect Taiwan's voice in carbon reduction and climate participation.

During the COP30 talks, the President of Palau Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. called for the reaffirmation of the convention's defining principle of "Leaving no one behind", when discussing the lack of presence of Taiwan, per Focus Taiwan.

Taiwan's central government stated that the Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko from the Marshall Islands emphasized that "every nation needs to be part of the solution" when it comes to climate change, and that the Marshall Islands "has long called for Taiwan to be part of the UNFCCC." Democracy dies when nations' voices are silenced, Kaneko added.

Radio Taiwan International (RTI) reported that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) emphasized that Taiwan is willing to fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the international community and continue to work closely with allies and like-minded partners to address climate change.

RTI also reported that Tuvalu, among many other countries, urged the inclusion of Taiwan. Dr Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment of Tuvalu, said that addressing climate change must be a top priority, which is why the convention should accept Taiwan.

On Nov. 18, Feleti Penitala Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, thanked Taiwan for its contribution to Tuvalu's climate change adaptation during a visit to Taiwan. He said that Tuvalu and Taiwan would strengthen cooperation in climate action, according to Taiwan's Office of the President.

Earlier in October at Tuvalu's Independence Day reception, Tuvalu's ambassador to Taiwan, Lily Tangisia Faavae, told TCN that through strengthened connections and meaningful partnerships, Taiwan and Tuvalu could build greater resilience in the face of climate challenges.


Taiwan's presence at COP30  

President Lee Chang-ken (李長庚) of Taiwan's Cathay Financial Holdings served as the opening speaker at World Climate Summit & Investment COP 2025, Commercial Times reported. 

In a speech titled "From the Amazon to the World – Scaling a New Era of Delivery," Lee shared Cathay Financial Holdings' plan to accelerate climate action together with all sectors. He stated that he wishes the world could see the results of Taiwan's sustainability transitions, per Commonwealth Magazine.

On Nov. 18, Lee said that Taiwan has already established a foundation for developing green financial products and a financial issuance framework, and will continue to strive to develop innovative natural financial products in the future, per a government press release.

Commonwealth Magazine said that despite Taiwan's exclusion from COP30, the nation's academic research institutions, advocates, and industry representatives have engaged in bilateral meetings, tea gatherings, and other dialogues to combat climate change.

The magazine noted that Pietro Bertazzi, Chief Policy and Projects Officer at Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), once called Taiwan a "very important market," and said that more and more international advocacy groups have been reaching out to Taiwan for dialogue.