Taiwan ranked in 52nd place out of 58 of the world’s most polluting countries that account for 90% of carbon dioxide emissions

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/11/17
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Map showing Taiwan rated “very poor”(By Central News Agency)

According to the 2017 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), the rate the world’s nations are transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy is not sufficient to prevent global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees Celsius (Celsius). Taiwan was ranked toward the bottom of the the list with 13 other countries that received a rating of “very poor.”

Published annually by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe, the CCPI index rates the climate protection performance of the 58 most polluting countries that account for 90% of carbon dioxide emissions in the world. This year’s report points out that despite the enormous growth of renewable energy, especially solar and wind power, the necessary energy revolution is not taking place rapidly enough.

Out of the 58 most polluting countries in the world, Taiwan (listed as Chinese Taipei), was in 52nd place, unchanged from last year. Countries on the list are ranked by emissions level, the development of emissions, the deployment of renewable energies, the energy intensity of the economy and climate policy.

Taiwan ranked “very poor” for its emissions level, “poor” in controlling it’s development of emissions, “moderate” in terms of renewable energies, “moderate” when it came to the energy intensity of the economy, and its climate policy was rated “poor.”    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/11/17
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA) The Cabinet’s proposed amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which cuts the

A meeting on the labor law amendment on Nov. 15

number of national holidays from 19 to 12, will be discussed at a coordination meeting between the Legislature’s four party caucuses, a Legislative committee decided on Thursday.

The Executive Yuan and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus want to cut seven national holidays for all workers nationwide, while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), New Power Party (NPP) and People First Party (PFP) want to keep the holidays.

KMT and NPP lawmakers proposed changes to the Cabinet’s amendment at a Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, in an effort to retain the national holidays.

However, Labor Minister Kuo Fang-yu (郭芳煜) said the proposal to cut the seven holidays was intended to ensure all workers (including public servants) enjoy the same number of holidays per year. Kuo said he would support whatever it took to achieve that goal.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 15, 2016

The Executive Committee Meeting of the Paris-headquartered International Council of Women kicked

President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at the opening of the Executive Committee Meeting of the ICW Nov. 14 in Taipei City. (CNA)

off Nov. 14 in Taipei City, marking the first time the global women’s rights organization has staged the assembly in Taiwan.

Hosted by the National Council of Women of Taiwan, Republic of China (NCWT), the four-day event is organized under the theme “Transforming Society through Women’s Empowerment” and includes a conference examining women’s roles in decision-making, local communities and workplaces. Speakers include politicians, scholars and representatives of rights groups from Egypt, Guatemala, Japan, Marshall Islands, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Speaking at the opening of the event, President Tsai Ing-wen highlighted Taiwan’s successful efforts to boost women’s participation in public affairs, pointing out that more than one-third of the country’s legislators are female. “As a woman president, I am also evidence of this trend,” she added.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: November 17, 2016
By: Sun Hsin Hsuan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A public hearing largely seen by civic groups as their last chance to raise concerns

Activist Hsu Wei-dong, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 280 hours, is aided by medical workers after fainting during a brawl in the Legislative Yuan on Wednesday, Nov. 16.(Sun Hsin Hsuan, The China Post/CNA )

about a controversial labor bill was adjourned in chaos Wednesday as activists clashed with the convener of the committee responsible for the legislation.

The activists, including members of several labor unions — some of whom had been hunger-striking for more than 280 hours by Wednesday, chanted “Where is Ker Chien-ming,” demanding that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip show up for the hearing.

“Are we just a joke to you (the DPP)?” Labor Rights Association CEO Wang Chuan-ping said at the hearing as activists questioned why most members of the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee — which is slated to vote Thursday on whether to send the bill to a second reading — were not present.

The bill seeks to eliminate seven public holidays and to implement a “one fixed, one flexible” day off workweek scheme as a precursor to a universal two-day weekend system.    [FULL  STORY]

It is ‘imperative’ to pass the same-sex marriage law during this parliamentary session, writes Jason Hsu, Kuomintang legislator-at-large.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/11/14
By: Jason Hsu

Since I took office in February as a legislator-at-large, I have made a commitment to pass a same-sex

Photo Credit: Reuters / 達志影像

marriage bill. I believe Taiwan, as a democratic society, represents progressive thinking in this regard. I understand, in the past, the LGBT issue has often be used on the political agenda to divide the public opinion. Taiwan’s election cycle is quite fast – we hold general elections once every two years. Therefore, it is imperative to pass the same-sex marriage during this parliamentary session.

I made a speech in the Legislative Yuan on Oct. 25, urging the parliament to pass a bill enabling same-sex marriage. The speech went viral on the Internet. I called on Taiwan to become the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. On Oct. 27, I submitted my own version of the bill, amending Civil Law Article 972 and 973 to give same-sex married couples equal rights on “family and inheritance.” I do not believe in creating a provisional law that singles out the LGBT community, for it is important to have an equal footing for same-sex and different-sex groups.    [FULL  STORY]