Major Emitters to Pay Carbon Fee for First Time in May, 224 Factories Eligible for Discounts, Accounting for 76% of Emissions
Major carbon emitters in Taiwan are required to pay carbon fees based on last year's emissions by the end of May this year. The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have completed their review, with a total of 224 factories qualifying for preferential treatment, accounting for approximately 76% of this year's total carbon emissions.
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- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 14:27
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AI Net Zero Special Report (Total 300 articles)
Central News Agency
Digital transformation is already underway in industries, and artificial intelligence and net-zero carbon emissions are the two major challenges faced by governments and enterprises, concerning Taiwan's future competitiveness. The Central News Agency's frontline reporting team deeply covers how governments and various industries utilize AI to optimize production processes and drive green innovation, witnessing Taiwan's industry leap forward once again.
(Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, 20th) Major carbon emitters must pay carbon fees based on last year's emissions by the end of May this year. However, if they are high carbon leakage risk businesses, they can enjoy a 20% discount. The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs recently completed their review, with a total of 224 factories qualifying, accounting for approximately 76% of this year's carbon emissions.
According to the "Carbon Fee Collection Regulations," electricity and gas supply industries and manufacturing industries with annual greenhouse gas emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons must pay carbon fees based on last year's full-year emissions by the end of May this year. This is the first year carbon fees are being collected since their implementation last year.
Among them, if a business is classified as a high carbon leakage risk business and submits a voluntary emission reduction plan (A or B) that passes review, the carbon fee payable can be multiplied by an emission adjustment coefficient, which is currently 0.2, meaning a 20% discount on the carbon fee.
Tsai Ling-yi, Director-General of the Climate Change Administration of the Ministry of Environment, explained today that the initially estimated number of Category 1 high carbon leakage risk businesses was about 260 factories, but only 204 factories actually applied and passed the review; adding 20 factories from Category 2, the total is 224 factories.
Tsai Ling-yi said that the total chargeable carbon emissions for this year are approximately 145 million metric tons, so high carbon leakage risk businesses are estimated to account for about 76% of the total. Compared to the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), which grants free allowances for up to 90%, Taiwan's adjustment for high carbon leakage risk is considered stringent in its system design compared to international standards.
Tsai Ling-yi explained that if a business unit obtains a preferential rate of NT$50 per metric ton of carbon through a stricter voluntary emission reduction plan A and passes the high carbon leakage risk business review, according to the formula design, if its emissions are 1 million metric tons, only 200,000 metric tons will be charged (200,000 metric tons multiplied by NT$50); but some people would convert this to the original emissions with a rate of NT$10 (1 million metric tons multiplied by NT$10), which is equivalent to a 20% discount on the carbon fee; for example, TCC (Taiwan Cement Corporation) falls under this rate.
High carbon leakage risk businesses are divided into two main categories: Category 1 "Positive List," which calculates trade intensity, emission intensity, and carbon fee rates for various industries based on the industry statistical classification of the Executive Yuan's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics; and Category 2 "Maintaining Industrial International Competitiveness," where businesses need to concretely prove that their gross profit is indeed affected by carbon leakage risk, and their main products are subject to anti-dumping duties announced by the Ministry of Finance, or businesses significantly affected by the US reciprocal tariff policy.
According to the final review results, a total of 204 factories passed in Category 1, covering 17 industries. A total of 20 factories passed in Category 2, including 9 factories significantly affected by systemic costs (mainly electronics manufacturing), 5 factories affected by anti-dumping duties (including ceramic tiles, specific aluminum foil, carbon steel plates, etc.), and 6 factories significantly affected by the US reciprocal tariff policy (including food industry, automotive parts industry). (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150420
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Central News Agency
Digital transformation is already underway in industries, and artificial intelligence and net-zero carbon emissions are the two major challenges faced by governments and enterprises, concerning Taiwan's future competitiveness. The Central News Agency's frontline reporting team deeply covers how governments and various industries utilize AI to optimize production processes and drive green innovation, witnessing Taiwan's industry leap forward once again.
(Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsiung-feng, Taipei, 20th) Major carbon emitters must pay carbon fees based on last year's emissions by the end of May this year. However, if they are high carbon leakage risk businesses, they can enjoy a 20% discount. The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs recently completed their review, with a total of 224 factories qualifying, accounting for approximately 76% of this year's carbon emissions.
According to the "Carbon Fee Collection Regulations," electricity and gas supply industries and manufacturing industries with annual greenhouse gas emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons must pay carbon fees based on last year's full-year emissions by the end of May this year. This is the first year carbon fees are being collected since their implementation last year.
Among them, if a business is classified as a high carbon leakage risk business and submits a voluntary emission reduction plan (A or B) that passes review, the carbon fee payable can be multiplied by an emission adjustment coefficient, which is currently 0.2, meaning a 20% discount on the carbon fee.
Tsai Ling-yi, Director-General of the Climate Change Administration of the Ministry of Environment, explained today that the initially estimated number of Category 1 high carbon leakage risk businesses was about 260 factories, but only 204 factories actually applied and passed the review; adding 20 factories from Category 2, the total is 224 factories.
Tsai Ling-yi said that the total chargeable carbon emissions for this year are approximately 145 million metric tons, so high carbon leakage risk businesses are estimated to account for about 76% of the total. Compared to the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), which grants free allowances for up to 90%, Taiwan's adjustment for high carbon leakage risk is considered stringent in its system design compared to international standards.
Tsai Ling-yi explained that if a business unit obtains a preferential rate of NT$50 per metric ton of carbon through a stricter voluntary emission reduction plan A and passes the high carbon leakage risk business review, according to the formula design, if its emissions are 1 million metric tons, only 200,000 metric tons will be charged (200,000 metric tons multiplied by NT$50); but some people would convert this to the original emissions with a rate of NT$10 (1 million metric tons multiplied by NT$10), which is equivalent to a 20% discount on the carbon fee; for example, TCC (Taiwan Cement Corporation) falls under this rate.
High carbon leakage risk businesses are divided into two main categories: Category 1 "Positive List," which calculates trade intensity, emission intensity, and carbon fee rates for various industries based on the industry statistical classification of the Executive Yuan's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics; and Category 2 "Maintaining Industrial International Competitiveness," where businesses need to concretely prove that their gross profit is indeed affected by carbon leakage risk, and their main products are subject to anti-dumping duties announced by the Ministry of Finance, or businesses significantly affected by the US reciprocal tariff policy.
According to the final review results, a total of 204 factories passed in Category 1, covering 17 industries. A total of 20 factories passed in Category 2, including 9 factories significantly affected by systemic costs (mainly electronics manufacturing), 5 factories affected by anti-dumping duties (including ceramic tiles, specific aluminum foil, carbon steel plates, etc.), and 6 factories significantly affected by the US reciprocal tariff policy (including food industry, automotive parts industry). (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150420
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.