Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change

Since Taiwan does not have a national report, I am using information from Japan's national report.

- An interesting thing that Japan is investing is new technology that will "handle new infectious diseases, pests, foreign fish species, and noxious organisms." Another interesting thing is that Japan is trying to create a buoy method that will monitor the water of toxic and harmful plankton. Also, they will be aquafarming fish types that are highly resistant to high water temperatures. (Source: Japan’s Fifth National Communication)

This is charts of Drivers of change in small islands and the implications for island condition and well-being under no adaptation and the near-term and mid-term implementation of adaptation. (Source: IPCC)

This following information was taken from IPCC's adaptation section from Asia.

- An interesting thing that Asia is trying to do is make crops that are salt-tolerant. Which would be awesome because then less fresh water is used and they can use the oceans water which might even (over time) reduce the sea level! (Source: IPCC)

- Taiwan did not sign the Kyoto protocol because they did not match some of the "requirements." "This provision limits qualified signatories to the Convention to: (1) the state members of the UN; (2) specialixed agencies of the UN; (3) parties to the Statute of the Internation Court of Justice; and (4) regional economic integration organizations ("REIOs")." Taiwan is neither a member of the UN or the International Court of Justice. Also, the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) did not categorize Taiwan as a "developing country" or a "country in economic transition." (Source: The Effects of the Kyoto Protocol on Taiwan)

- Taiwan is taking many efforts to mitigating climate change. Taiwan pledged to the UNFCCC in 2010 that it would cut greenhouse gas emission by at least 30 percent by 2020. "The Committee for the Promotion of Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction, established by Taiwan’s Executive Yuan in the end of 2009, has drawn up a master plan to fulfill its mandate. The plan calls for concrete actions in such areas as energy, industry, transportation, architecture and lifestyle. In 2012, the Executive Yuan also approved national climate change adaptation guidelines covering eight major domains— disasters, essential infrastructure, water resources, land use, coastal areas, energy supply and the energy sector, agriculture and biodiversity, and health."
Taiwan is also trying to pass a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bill. Also they have an Energy Tax Bill, a Renewable Energy Development Statute and the Energy Management Act. (Source: Taiwan Embassy)

- I personally think that Taiwan needs to do both because since Taiwan needs to learn how to conserve energy and put less emissions in the air but also, learn to adapt because they are such a small island that they need to learn how to adapt and survive the oncoming climate changes.