AGP Executive Report

Climate Pledges: Twelve mayoral candidates signed commitments covering renewable energy, disaster readiness, heat adaptation, flood management and sustainable transport. Taipei’s Chiang Wan-an and Puma Shen signed the full pledge; some candidates declined. Dark Skies: Taoyuan’s Lala Mountain became Taiwan’s first Urban Night Sky Place, recognized for protecting nighttime conditions and promoting responsible outdoor lighting. Wildlife: Taipei Zoo’s red panda Chi-Chi is settling into Singapore Zoo as part of a partnership to support the endangered species’ captive population and genetic diversity. Energy and Oversight: A court revoked the review of a Taichung Power Plant project, while Taiwan’s return to nuclear power has been linked to rising electricity demand from AI. Pacific Resilience: Taiwan pledged US$3 million to support resilience efforts in Fiji.

Dark-Sky Protection: Taoyuan’s Lala Mountain has become Taiwan’s first Urban Night Sky Place, recognized for protecting the nighttime environment and promoting responsible outdoor lighting. Climate and City Planning: Twelve mayoral candidates have pledged support for 18 sustainability policies, including renewable energy, flood preparedness, heat adaptation and sustainable transport. Fire and Air Quality: A blaze at a Miaoli trash dump burned about 4,000 square meters; officials monitored air quality and urged downwind residents to close windows and stay clear. Urban Trees: Taipei removed 4,589 trees over two years, while tree canopy fell by about 13.7 hectares—nearly 20 soccer fields—highlighting the slow loss of shade and urban cooling. Global Heat: August was jointly the hottest on record worldwide, with temperatures again above 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels.

Landfill Fire: A blaze at a Yuanli Township, Miaoli, dump burned about 4,000 square metres on Sunday. Firefighters were still working to put it out, while officials monitored air quality and urged people downwind to close windows. Urban Canopy: Taipei removed 4,589 trees in 2024 and 2025, while satellite analysis found canopy cover shrank by about 13.7 hectares—nearly 20 soccer fields—over the same period. Energy Choices: Taiwan’s return to nuclear power is being driven by AI’s growing electricity demand, while a court has revoked the review of a Taichung Power Plant project. Climate Warning: August tied for the world’s hottest on record, pushing global temperatures back above 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels.

Power and Pollution: A court has revoked the environmental review of the Taichung Power Plant project, reopening scrutiny of a major energy decision. Taiwan’s return to nuclear power is also being driven by rising electricity demand from AI. Climate Pressure: August tied for the world’s hottest on record, with global temperatures again above 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. Nature and Health: A Taiwan study examines links between urban greenery, air pollution and asthma visits among children and adolescents. Clean Energy: A Taiwanese wind farm has suffered a second turbine-blade failure in two months, raising fresh questions about reliability. Circular Economy: Taiwan and Australia discussed cooperation on circular-economy efforts.

Energy Transition: Taiwan’s AI-driven electricity demand is sharpening debate over the return to nuclear power, while the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan’s new chair says the island must move faster on power infrastructure. Renewables Under Scrutiny: A wind farm has suffered a second turbine blade failure in two months, raising fresh questions about reliability. Power Plant Oversight: A court has revoked the review of a Taichung power plant project, reopening scrutiny of its approval process. Health and Green Space: A Taiwan study examined links between urban greenery, air pollution and asthma visits among children and adolescents. Circular Economy: Taiwan and Australia discussed cooperation on circular-economy efforts.

Climate: August was jointly the hottest month on record, taking global temperatures back above 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. Power and Planning: A court revoked the review of a Taichung power plant project, while Taiwan’s nuclear-power debate is gaining urgency as AI drives electricity demand. Wind Energy: Orsted and Siemens Gamesa are investigating blade damage at a Taiwan wind farm after repeated failures. Circular Economy: Taiwan and Australia discussed cooperation on circular economy efforts. Public Health: A Taiwan study examined links between urban greenery, air pollution and asthma visits among young people.

Marine Conservation: At a Taipei conservation forum, Palau’s ambassador urged closer Taiwan cooperation on marine science, biodiversity protection and sustainable tourism. Climate Signals: August tied for the hottest month on record, with global temperatures 1.65°C above the pre-industrial average and record ocean heat. Energy Oversight: A court revoked the review of the Taichung Power Plant project, reopening scrutiny of the proposal. Renewables: Taiwan’s offshore wind sector faces renewed concern after a second turbine blade failure; Ørsted and Siemens Gamesa are investigating. Greener Communities: Taitung needs more urban green space, according to the environment ministry, while Taiwan and Australia have discussed circular-economy cooperation.

Power and Pollution: A Taipei court revoked the environmental review decision for Taichung Power Plant’s planned gas expansion, putting a 5,500-megawatt project back under scrutiny. Environmental groups want a full second-stage review and a smaller build-out, warning that coal units would remain. Energy Transition: Taiwan is preparing to restart Maanshan nuclear plant as early as 2028, citing rising electricity demand from chipmaking and AI. Supporters point to reliable power; critics question the plant’s capacity and raise concerns about radioactive waste and safety. AI’s Ecological Cost: A discussion featuring a Taiwanese researcher highlighted the electricity, water and mineral demands of data centers, as Taiwan weighs how to power the AI boom. Climate and Nature: Registration is open for New Taipei’s 2026 International Youth Climate Forum. Taitung officials say the city needs more urban green space, while a Taiwanese offshore wind farm faces a second turbine-blade failure in two months. Health: A study links urban greenness and air pollution with asthma visits among Taiwanese children and adolescents, underscoring how city environments affect public health.

Power and Climate: Taiwan is preparing to restart the Maanshan nuclear plant as AI and semiconductor demand drives up electricity needs. The reactor could return as early as 2028, but critics question how much power it will add and warn that waste storage and accident risks remain. Wind Energy: Investigators are examining a second turbine blade failure at the same Taiwan offshore wind farm in two months. Health and Green Space: A Taiwan study is examining links between urban greenery, air pollution and asthma visits among children and teenagers; officials have also said Taitung needs more urban green space. Circular Economy: Taiwan and Australia have discussed cooperation on circular economy initiatives, while registration has opened for New Taipei’s 2026 International Youth Climate Forum.

Youth Climate Action: New Taipei is taking registrations until Oct. 19 for its Oct. 22 international forum, where young people will discuss practical climate projects in clean energy, circular economy, conservation and public engagement. Proposals have risen from 10 in 2024 to 38 this year. Offshore Wind: A Taiwan wind farm has suffered a second turbine blade failure in two months; Ørsted and Siemens Gamesa are investigating, raising fresh questions about equipment reliability and maintenance. Circular Economy: Taiwan and Australia have discussed cooperation on circular economy efforts, while a separate Taiwan–U.S. initiative is promoting net-zero collaboration through green finance and resource circularity. Urban Nature: Taiwan’s environment ministry says Taitung needs more urban green space, highlighting the role of local planning in improving access to nature.

Youth Climate Action: New Taipei has opened registration for its Oct. 22 International Youth Climate Action Forum, with 100 places available. Youth proposals have grown from 10 in 2024 to 38 this year, covering clean energy, circular economy and ecological conservation. Renewables and Rural Land: A new Taiwanese film follows two boys in Yunlin as fishing ponds are converted into solar farms, exploring the local tensions behind the green-energy shift. Wind Power Reliability: A Taiwan offshore wind farm has suffered a second turbine-blade failure in two months; Ørsted and Siemens Gamesa are investigating. Urban Nature: Taitung could use more urban green space, while conservation advocates are calling for research into owls at Shalun Park.

Offshore Wind Watch: Orsted’s Greater Changhua 4 wind farm in Taiwan is dealing with a second Siemens Gamesa turbine blade issue in two months, with no injuries reported and Siemens Gamesa leading the investigation. Clean Tech & Circularity: Gigaphoton unveiled a neon recycling system for semiconductor lasers, claiming a 50% recycling rate—another step toward reducing supply-chain pressure for critical materials used in chipmaking. Energy Transition Pressure: Australia’s coal expansion is accelerating exports even as it prepares to lead COP31, with analysts citing disrupted gas supplies and a forecast rise in global coal demand. Climate & Nature Science: An ALMA study finds a “chemical starter kit” around young stars, including methanol, shedding light on how organic molecules that could seed planets form in space. Governance & Investment Climate: Japan’s chamber in Taipei urged Taiwan to make administrative procedures more transparent and predictable to boost investment, alongside calls to address skilled-worker and electricity shortages. Cross-border Security & Public Protection: Taiwan is preparing tougher measures after a China-linked surveillance arrest in the U.S., as authorities move to counter transnational repression. AI Supply Chain & Taiwan’s Role: Reports say Taiwan’s Taiex has overtaken South Korea’s Kospi in 2026, driven by deeper AI supply-chain exposure—relevant for energy, materials, and infrastructure planning. Mobility Tech: Gogoro announced new board director appointments and a US$61.8 million equity investment round to support its battery-swapping ecosystem.

Offshore Wind Watch: Orsted’s Greater Changhua 4 in Taiwan is facing a second Siemens Gamesa turbine blade issue in two months, with Siemens Gamesa leading the investigation after the 2 Oct damage and no injuries reported. Circular Economy & Waste Policy: Taiwan’s RECA chief led talks in Australia on circular markets, sharing Taiwan’s recycling and circular shopping approach and discussing battery and solar panel recycling cooperation. Green Tech for Chips: Gigaphoton says it has developed a neon gas recycling system for ArF excimer lasers, aiming to cut reliance on global neon supply—relevant for Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem. AI, Energy Demand & Renewables: Eco Wave Power highlighted its onshore wave energy plans including a project in Taiwan, pitching wave power as a scalable clean electricity source for data centers and coastal infrastructure. Taiwan in Global Security Debate: A new analysis warns the risk of “nonforcible realignment” or bloodless annexation as a Taiwan vulnerability, arguing Washington is not fully prepared—raising stakes for prevention and resilience. Taiwan Business & Sustainability: Aon relocated its Taiwan corporate office in Taipei, citing smart-building energy efficiency and LEED Gold/EEWH Gold targets.

Circular Economy & Waste Policy: Taiwan’s Environment Resource Circulation Administration (RECA) is in Australia pushing circular markets, sharing recycling and “green shopping” know-how and discussing battery/solar panel recycling with NSW and Australia’s climate and environment agencies. Offshore Wind Reliability: Ørsted reports a second turbine blade failure at Taiwan’s Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm in two months, triggering safety measures while it works with Siemens Gamesa to find the cause. Energy & Climate Finance for Islands: Papua New Guinea pledges PGK25 million to Tuvalu for five years to fund land reclamation as sea levels rise, with leaders meeting ahead of Pre-COP. Taiwan–Australia Circular Economy Talks: RECA’s delegation highlights low-carbon, resilient circular systems and supply-chain cooperation across the Asia-Pacific. AI Cybersecurity Prep: Taiwan’s National Institute of Cybersecurity plans black-box cybersecurity testing next year using agentic AI to imitate hackers during government exercises. Trade Tensions Spill Over: The EU and China are set to meet on market access, shipments, and rare-earth export controls as disputes intensify and spread into Europe’s defense sector. Semiconductor Patent Pressure: Korean chipmaker SK hynix faces more U.S. patent suits, with non-practicing entities driving a record surge in litigation. Wind Power Incident: The Greater Changhua 4 blade failure adds to recent operational disruption concerns for Taiwan’s offshore wind buildout.

Taiwan–U.S. Net-Zero Push: STUF United Fund hosted a New York Climate Week forum on scaling circular economy and green finance, aiming to deepen Taiwan–U.S. net-zero partnerships. Energy Transition in Taiwan: A fast-track 180MW aeroderivative gas turbine project in Miaoli shows how Taiwan is speeding up grid additions, with turbines designed for quick cold starts and a hydrogen blend ramp-up. Climate Disaster Watch: Interview coverage tracks Super Typhoon Bavi’s rapid intensification and impacts across Guam, the Marianas and near Taiwan, highlighting how regional forecasting supports disaster response. AI Supply Chain, Taiwan in the Spotlight: Foxconn reported Q3 revenue up 47% year-on-year on AI server demand, with September revenue hitting a monthly record above NT$1 trillion. Geopolitics Meets the Environment: Reports describe Chinese state-linked vessels running structured surveys over subsea cable corridors near Guam and Japan—raising new concerns for critical infrastructure in the Pacific. Local Politics: Taipei mayoral campaign momentum builds as DPP heavyweights rally behind Puma Shen, with “positivity and capability” at the center.

Taipei Election Watch: DPP heavyweight support is pouring in for Puma Shen as he kicks off his Taipei mayor bid, pitching “positivity and capability” and a citywide push to connect people through Taipei’s heritage. Climate & Urban Heat: Taitung County has the highest forest coverage, but MOENV says urban green cover is still too low in low-lying towns where foehn winds can spike heat above 40°C; the ministry plans an EU-style evaluation and a national urban forest push. Clean Energy Tech: Floating power plants are gaining attention as renewables face land limits and community pushback, offering cleaner power for coastal cities and other space-constrained areas. Disaster Preparedness: Taiwan and the U.S. held a Global Cooperation and Training Framework workshop in Auckland to share disaster response know-how, highlighting Taiwan’s early warning and whole-of-society preparedness. Industry & Environment Link: Foxconn’s AI-driven revenue surge underscores how Taiwan’s electronics boom is accelerating demand for data centers and power—raising the stakes for cleaner energy and smarter cooling.