黃育徵〈邁向循環經濟不是選項,是必然要走的路!〉
邁向循環經濟不是選項,是必然要走的路!
2018年10月,聯合國「政府間氣候變化專門委員會」(IPCC)預測,以目前溫度持續增加的速率,相較於工業革命前,在2030年至2052年間,地球溫度將上升超過攝氏1.5度。如此等於宣布了我們的生存環境已經無法負荷燃燒化石能源所產生的汙染和碳排量了。國際間一直以來依循的線性經濟發展模式,已經到了該全面檢討並積極轉型的時候。為了地球的永續發展,我們已經無法持續採用這種「GDP導向、企業享有利益利潤、民間承擔風險及成本、化石能源無止盡地被開採」的資源揮霍型模式,而是轉型邁向循環經濟。人類的基本「需求」,應該由產品的擁有者被重新定義為產品的使用者。而經濟的「成長」,則必須被重新設計,與資源消耗脫鉤。只要不再肆無忌憚地濫用化石能源儲存量,減緩化石能源消耗,或許有機會在升溫1.5度的臨界點前踩住剎車。
對自然資源不負責任地使用,正是線性經濟的主要負面特徵之一。而消費者越養越大的胃口和喜新厭舊的消費習慣,正是資源濫用的幫凶。生產者因此樂於設計生命週期短的商品,以刺激新產品更快上市搶攻消費者的荷包。這種產品設計的商業模式,我們稱之為「計畫性汰舊」,也是線性經濟的一大問題。
再者,傳統執著於GDP成長的觀念,已經是過時的衡量基準。如同羅伯特.甘迺迪(Robert F. Kennedy)曾諷刺地提及:「GDP衡量一切,但不包含那些生命中真正重要的事情。」因此,對於一直以來GDP導向的成長指標,我們應該要重新定義何謂「成長」。對此,聯合國提出了永續發展目標(Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs),內容除了涵蓋解決貧窮、飢餓及保障性別平等指導方針,更擴及到氣候行動、永續城市、責任消費和生產目標等議題。近年來,SDGs已逐漸成為國際間落實永續發展的共同目標與語言。就我看來,轉型循環經濟,正是落實SDGs最重要且被認同的關鍵策略之一。
台糖公司近年來大力推動轉型循環經濟,已舉辦了許多場與循環經濟議題相關的論壇,鎖定政府、產業、學術界、非政府組織與媒體,廣徵建言,尋求共識,以共同提倡循環經濟。 並將投資循環經濟列為轉型發展策略最重要的一環。近期主要的投資專案如東海豐及農業循環豬場改建計畫、沙崙智慧綠能循環住宅計畫、牡蠣殼回收製成碳酸鈣及沼氣能源服務公司規劃等。透過推動這些具體的計畫,將大大改變台糖公司未來發展的面貌,使台糖成為國內落實轉型循環經濟的標竿與領頭企業。
《Drawdown》一書,是我於去(2017)年8月開卷,驚豔於該書如何反轉地球暖化的建議方案,既全面又易實踐。值此扭轉線性經濟、轉向循環經濟的關鍵時刻,本書正是切合需要,我認為有必要將這本書儘快推廣到華文社會。為此,台糖公司與聯經出版事業公司攜手合作,共同催生《Drawdown》一書的中譯版,希望能將所有參與本書編寫並對本書有所貢獻的人士之熱情與理念傳遞出去,進而影響更多人,為節能減碳採取行動並做出貢獻。相信只要結合我們的智慧,共同承諾及努力,我們必能翻轉氣候變遷,並避免潛在的災難。正如一句非洲的諺語所說的:「要走得快,就一個人走;要走得遠,就大家一起走」。
藉由本書的出版,我們樂觀地確信,將會有更多的人們能真正理解自然資源確實是有限的。而作為消費者或生產者的我們每個人,也將知道必須以更負責任的態度,減少對我們所居住的環境留下足跡。
循環經濟不是選項,是必然要走的路,更是我們這個世代的責任。而我們台糖公司深信,投資循環經濟,就是投資未來!
黃育徵
台糖公司董事長
2018年12月
台糖公司董事長
2018年12月
Circular Economy is Not a Choice — It is a Necessity and a Generational Responsibility!
In October of this year, UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that global temperature were to continue to increase at the current rate, it will rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels between 2030 and 2052. The environment can no longer tolerate the pollution and carbon emissions generated from burning fossil fuels. The globally-pervasive Linear Economy (LE) should be thoroughly scrutinized and transformed. Linear economic model and GDP-oriented growth and development objectives, where private corporations enjoy the benefits and profits and the social public has to bear the costs and risks. To ensure sustainable development, we must shift away from LE towards Circular Economy (CE): Human’s fundamental “Needs” ought to be redefined from owners of products to performance users of products. Economic “Growth” should be redesigned to decouple from excessive resource consumption. Fossil fuels ought not be extracted with impunity. If we can refrain from consuming all the fossil fuels discovered to date, we might be able to manage the 1.5 degree rise in temperature threshold.
The irresponsible use of natural resources is one of the key degenerative features of the LE. Our voracious consumption habits and constantly chasing after the latest product models have led to the waste of precious and finite resources. LE thrives on product manufacturers’ insatiable desire to sell and market new products. In the name of satisfying consumers needs, producers regularly churning out new and shorter life cycle products in order to maximize their own profits. The described “Planned and Designed for Obsolescence” is a detrimental paradigm of LE.
Further, GDP may no longer be adequate as a growth measurement. Robert F. Kennedy some half century ago sarcastically said it best: “... GDP measures everything, except what’s important in life.” We need to redefine “growth” beyond GDP. UN has launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 covering boarder issues including poverty, hunger, gender equality, climate action, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, resource efficiency etc. In recent years, SDGs have become the common goal and language for sustainable development worldwide. As I see it, transforming towards a circular economy is the core strategy for ascertaining SDGs.
Taiwan Sugar Corporation (TSC) is committed to transition towards CE. TSC has held numerous forums on CE-focused topics aiming to align various public and private initiatives toward CE. Investment in CE is one of the most critical strategy in TSC’s future development. TSC has initiated numerous CE investment projects in the coming years. The Investment pipelines include Agricultural Circular Park, Smart Green Circular Village, the Calcium Carbonate Recovery Plant from oyster shell and the Biogas Energy Service Company etc. TSC will be among Taiwan’s pioneers toward CE.
When I first read “Drawdown”, I was impressed by the comprehensive solutions presented in the book on reversing global warming and responding to climate change. The global transition from LE to CE is unequivocally a necessity. I believe a Chinese version of “Drawdown” will serve the Mandarin-speaking community well in search of a sustainable future.
TSC collaborates with Linking Publishing to publish the Chinese version of “Drawdown.” We hope that more people in the Chinese language community can be inspired by the passion of all the distinguished contributors to the book. With our collective effort, wisdom and commitment, we surely must and can reverse climate change and avoid potential calamity. As the African saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
With this book, we are optimistic more people can be drawn to accept natural re-sources are indeed finite and everyone of us, as ‘consumers’ or producers must act with absolute responsibility to lessen our footprint on the environment we live in.
CE is not a choice. It is a necessity and a generational responsibility. At TSC, we believe investing in CE is investing in the future!
Charles Y. Huang
Chairman of Taiwan Sugar Corporation
December 2018
李應元〈逆轉全球暖化是我們共同的故事〉
逆轉全球暖化是我們共同的故事
聯合國「政府間氣候變化專門委員會」(IPCC)今(2018)年 10 月 8 日於韓國仁川發表《Global Warming of 1.5℃》:最晚在 2052 年,地球升溫就將突破1.5℃,若要使均溫回到 1.5℃以內,全球的二氧化碳排放量必須要在 2050 年歸。這份報告也將成為今年底國際氣候談判(COP24)的重要科學依據。如何減緩或阻止全球暖化已經是地球所有公民的責任與義務了。
本書結集數百名學者專家提出 80 種既有的措施,藉由勾勒藍圖、數據彙整與模型建立,確定在 2050 年可以扭轉二氧化碳的累積或影響、分析社會總成本以及可節省的金錢。另外 20 種則為即將到來的技術或可稱為「明日新亮點」,希望能以人類集體智慧的形式存在於世界的藍圖,在應用實踐和技術中展現出來。
這份清單主要包括「無悔」(no regrets)方案──無論氣候變化如何都該採取的行動,這些措施可改善生活、創造就業機會、恢復環境、增強安全性、產生適應力、促進人類健康。但唯一的條件在於個人、社區、農業、城市、企業和政府立即的行動,不將全球暖化看作無法避免的事件且必須以「前所未有的」努力來面對。
這是一本美麗、鼓舞人心的書,敘述著地球公民都在做著非凡的事情,逆轉全球暖化更是我們共同的故事。
李應元
環境保護署前署長
2018年12月
環境保護署前署長
2018年12月
Reversing Global Warming is More of a Mutual Story of Our Own
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a special report, Global Warming of 1.5°C, on Oct. 18, 2018 in Incheon, South Korea. The report mentioned that by the end of 2052, the temperature rise is likely to reach upwards of 1.5 degrees Celsius; in order to limit the average earth temperature to 1.5 degrees, carbon dioxide emissions have to reach net zero around 2050. This report is going to be an important scientifi c basis for COP24 at the end of this year. How to slow down or stop global warming is our responsibilities and obligations as earth citizens.
This book collects 80 existing measures proposed by hundreds of scholars and experts in order to draw a blueprint, gather data and establish a model for the purpose of reversing the accumulation and effects of carbon dioxide, analyzing total societal costs, and saving money by 2050; other 20 measures are upcoming technologies or spotlights on global warming. It is hoped that the presence of collective wisdom of mankind can be demonstrated in the blueprint of the world and in applications and technologies as well.
The list is primarily comprised of “no regrets” solutions - no matter how much climate has been changing, we have to take those measures into actions to improve life, create employment opportunities, restore environment, reinforce safety, build adaptability, and promote human well-being. The one and only condition relies on individuals, communities, agriculture, cities, businesses, and governments taking immediate actions and facing global warming with unprecedented efforts, rather than thinking of it as an inevitable event.
This is a beautiful and inspiring book. It describes extraordinary things earth citizens are now doing and reversing global warming is more of a mutual story of our own.
Ying-Yuan Lee
Minister of EPA
December 2018