Taiwan was rated 29th out of 132 countries in terms of environmental health and ecosystem vitality, according to the 2012 Environmental Performance Index released January 25.
The report, published by US-based Columbia and Yale universities, employed 22 indicators to measure 10 environmental and ecological categories.
Switzerland, Latvia, Norway, Luxembourg and Costa Rica topped the list, in that order. Taiwan placed fifth in Asia behind New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Brunei. Overall, it outranked Canada (37th), South Korea (43rd), Australia (48th), the US (49th), Singapore (52nd) and mainland China (116th).
Taiwan was ranked No. 1 in three categories: Air (Effects on Human Health), Water (Effects on Human Health) and Forests.
In Climate Change, however, Taiwan was placed at 110th. According to the report, Taiwan emits a rather high level of greenhouse gases, while renewable electricity represents only a small proportion of the country’s energy.
In response, officials from the Environmental Protection Administration said the government has been trying to lower the nation’s carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions.
They said carbon emissions per capita decreased more than 4 per cent for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009, while sulfur discharges per capita were reduced to 10.72 kilograms in 2005, down nearly 22 per cent from 2000.
According to the EPA, the government will step up exhaust management for automobiles and more industrial sectors, to further curb greenhouse gases. It will also continue to promote low-pollution vehicles such as electric motorcycles.
First published in 2002, the EPI is released every two years. In 2006 Taiwan ranked 24th of 133 countries, and in 2008 40th of 140. Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iraq received the lowest ratings in this year’s report.
