Taipei, May 18 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou unveiled a national campaign Tuesday in which the public is encouraged to do the "little things" in life as a part of Taiwan's aggressive initiative to curb carbon emissions to the 2008 level by 2020.
Taiwan accounts for 1 percent of the global carbon emissions, with carbon emissions per capita 2.8 times the global average, which is why Taiwan needs to address the issues of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change before it is too late, Ma said.
He made the remarks at a press conference in which he and Premier Wu Den-yih announced the formation of an "Emissions-curbing Service Team" consisting of technical consultation groups, volunteer groups and advocacy groups with the aim of integrating resources to promote the campaign.
The campaign urges the public to contribute by starting with the "little things, " such as switching off electrical equipment and appliances, conserving water and raising the thermostat on the air conditioner by a few degrees.
If everyone does these little things, the combined results can be fruitful, Ma said, adding that Taiwan is targeting reducing its carbon emissions to the 2008 level by 2020 and down to 50 percent of the 2000 level by 2050.
The initiative also promotes green energy and alternative energy and encourages people to buy energy-efficient products.
Taiwan's carbon emissions were down by 4.4 percent in 2008 and 5 percent in 2009, Ma said. Although emissions are expected to rise again after the economic recovery, he went on, the government will do its best to make sure energy is consumed more efficiently.
Wu, for his part, said that "decades ago, the government did everything it could to promote automation, which later became one of the keys of Taiwan's economic growth. Today we have the same determination to tackle the threat of carbon emissions and climate change, because these are the right things to do. " (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J