The greenhouse effect drives climate change and extreme weather, threatening environmental sustainability, human survival, food security, economic stability. Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic growth are global priorities. To stabilize GHG concentrations and prevent further climate disruption, the Paris Agreement requires countries to set Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate action. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including green carbon stored in trees(forest), yellow carbon in soil, and blue carbon in marine ecosystems, are increasingly recognized for their dual role in mitigating GHGes and enhancing human well-being and ecosystem services. Although Taiwan's agriculture sector accounted for only 1.17% (29 kt CO2 e) of the nation's total GHG emissions in 2020, their remains the only measurable sector for carbon sink evaluation, making it pivotal to Taiwan’s Net-Zero Emission goals. On World Earth Day, 22 April 2021, the Government of Taiwan announced its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Subsequently, in March 2022, Taiwan formally unveiled "Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050." The four major transition strategies encompass "energy transition," "industrial transition," "lifestyle transition," and "social transition," while the two major governance foundations focus on "technological research and development" and "climate legislation." Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture will accomplish the goal of net-zero emissions by 2040 and has set out 19 strategies and 59 measures under the four major aspects of "reduction of carbon emission," "enhancement of carbon sink," "circular agriculture," and "green trend." Moreover, the Green Payments Program, Organic Agriculture Promotion Act, Regulations for Subsidies Program of Organic Agricultural Production and so on are used to reach the goal. As the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture hosts the "Internationalization Mechanism Coordination and Establishment Project for Taiwan's Agricultural Carbon Credits," three "Agricultural Carbon Reduction Methodology Seminars" were organized, and draft methodologies were presented. This study reviews relevant literature and official documents to analyze the agricultural sector's strategic plan, technology, policy, and incentives for reducing GHG emissions. Consequently, this study proposes recommendations for Taiwan's future policy planning. These recommendations encompass improving GHG emission inventories, planning recommendations for carbon credit trading within the agricultural sector, emission reduction in rice planting and the livestock industry, increasing agricultural land emission reduction, forest carbon credits, reducing emissions in fisheries, and conducting an inventory of agricultural GHG emissions. However, trading carbon credits from these sinks offers a lucrative business model for agricultural carbon reduction. Furthermore, increasing soil carbon sequestration, organic farming, and sustainable practices are crucial not only for reducing GHG emissions but also for sustainable agricultural production. The government is incentivizing agricultural carbon reduction through carbon credit programs. The Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange (TCX), established in August 2023, facilitates carbon credit trading. Current credits primarily come from non-agricultural sources. To stay competitive, Taiwan must enhance its agricultural carbon credit systems and align with international markets. Developed countries' carbon regulations encourage improvements and protect local enterprises. Taiwan needs robust carbon credit certification and trading systems to integrate into the global market.
Keyword: Net-Zero Emissions, Agricultural Policy, Carbon-negative Strategies, Nature-based Solutions.
The greenhouse effect drives climate change and extreme weather, threatening environmental sustainability, human survival, food security, economic stability. Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and decoupling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from economic growth are global priorities. To stabilize GHG concentrations and prevent further climate disruption, the Paris Agreement requires countries to set Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate action. Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including green carbon stored in trees(forest), yellow carbon in soil, and blue carbon in marine ecosystems, are increasingly recognized for their dual role in mitigating GHGes and enhancing human well-being and ecosystem services. Although Taiwan's agriculture sector accounted for only 1.17% (29 kt CO2 e) of the nation's total GHG emissions in 2020, their remains the only measurable sector for carbon sink evaluation, making it pivotal to Taiwan’s Net-Zero Emission goals. On World Earth Day, 22 April 2021, the Government of Taiwan announced its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Subsequently, in March 2022, Taiwan formally unveiled "Taiwan’s Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050." The four major transition strategies encompass "energy transition," "industrial transition," "lifestyle transition," and "social transition," while the two major governance foundations focus on "technological research and development" and "climate legislation." Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture will accomplish the goal of net-zero emissions by 2040 and has set out 19 strategies and 59 measures under the four major aspects of "reduction of carbon emission," "enhancement of carbon sink," "circular agriculture," and "green trend." Moreover, the Green Payments Program, Organic Agriculture Promotion Act, Regulations for Subsidies Program of Organic Agricultural Production and so on are used to reach the goal. As the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture hosts the "Internationalization Mechanism Coordination and Establishment Project for Taiwan's Agricultural Carbon Credits," three "Agricultural Carbon Reduction Methodology Seminars" were organized, and draft methodologies were presented. This study reviews relevant literature and official documents to analyze the agricultural sector's strategic plan, technology, policy, and incentives for reducing GHG emissions. Consequently, this study proposes recommendations for Taiwan's future policy planning. These recommendations encompass improving GHG emission inventories, planning recommendations for carbon credit trading within the agricultural sector, emission reduction in rice planting and the livestock industry, increasing agricultural land emission reduction, forest carbon credits, reducing emissions in fisheries, and conducting an inventory of agricultural GHG emissions. However, trading carbon credits from these sinks offers a lucrative business model for agricultural carbon reduction. Furthermore, increasing soil carbon sequestration, organic farming, and sustainable practices are crucial not only for reducing GHG emissions but also for sustainable agricultural production. The government is incentivizing agricultural carbon reduction through carbon credit programs. The Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange (TCX), established in August 2023, facilitates carbon credit trading. Current credits primarily come from non-agricultural sources. To stay competitive, Taiwan must enhance its agricultural carbon credit systems and align with international markets. Developed countries' carbon regulations encourage improvements and protect local enterprises. Taiwan needs robust carbon credit certification and trading systems to integrate into the global market.
Keyword: Net-Zero Emissions, Agricultural Policy, Carbon-negative Strategies, Nature-based Solutions.