Taiwan in Net-Zero Transition: An East Asian Perspective of Developmental Environmentalism

Chou explores the structural dilemmas, mindsets, challenges, and solutions of the net-zero transition in Taiwan. Using Taiwan as a representative example of the structural challenges faced by East Asian countries in achieving the global net-zero carbon emission goal, the book examines the proposition of developmental environmentalism in the context of East Asia.

Taiwan faces diverse challenges, such as internal and external net-zero carbon emission pressures, geopolitical socioeconomic competition, an internal carbon-intensive industrial structure, and the path dependence of the brown economy. Within this framework, the developmental net-zeroism perspective, from the vantage point of developmental environmentalism and the distinctive characteristics of Taiwan, offers insights into the climate governance particularities of East Asian countries as high-carbon manufacturing systems and as part of the global supply chain.

A valuable read for researchers and policymakers concerned about the political, economic, and social situations in Asia and Taiwan affecting the net-zero transition.

Kuei Tien Chou is the Director of the Risk Society and Policy Research Center at National Taiwan University. He conducts research on risk governance, just transition, and net-zero emissions. He has edited books on energy transition, climate change, and air pollution governance in Asia/East Asia.