Copenhagen (AsiaNews) - To reduce the temperature of the planet in an efficient way, Taiwan proposes a worldwide collaboration between hot and cold countries for a more effective use of fossil fuels and those derived from biomass.
The proposal, written by Stephen Shu-hung Shen, Taiwan's Minister for the Environment, is being circulated at the Copenhagen conference on climate change and was published on 7 December last by the Japan Times.
The suggestion could lead to an effective reduction of carbon emissions within 40 years. It is based on a geographical distribution between north and south of the production of energy and fossil fuels and biomass.
Under the proposal, "power stations should be located in colder areas with a higher demand for heat, electricity produced should be distributed to the tropical and sub-tropical areas”. At the same time, "fossil fuels and ecological coal produced in tropical and subtropical areas would be transported to areas with prevalently cold temperatures to generate electricity and distribute it to the world, including to electric cars." For the minister, in fact, electric vehicles have most efficient use of energy equal to about 4 times that of conventional vehicles.
The article distributed in Copenhagen also shows Taiwan's success in environmental protection. In 2008, for the first time, emissions of carbon dioxide on the island decreased by 4.4% over the previous year.
Last year the Taiwan government announced the future goals for reducing emissions in the island: a return to 2008 levels over the period 2016 to 2020, returning to 2000 levels of 50% by 2050.