Due to the severe global climate change situation, countries under the framework of the Paris Agreement have been reviewing their climate actions and actively developing mitigation, adaptation, and technical work, followed by goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In 2022, the National Development Council of the Executive Yuan announced "Taiwan's 2050 Net-Zero Emissions Pathway and Strategy Overview," providing a trajectory and action path toward net-zero by 2050 to promote technology, research, and innovation in key areas and guide industrial transformation.
To promote the vision of energy saving and carbon reduction in domestic water engineering, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has established short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Using the average total carbon emissions from 2019 to 2021 (587,000 tCO2e) as a reference baseline, the following annual reduction targets have been set:
- 20% reduction by 2022
- 30% reduction by 2023
- 40% reduction by 2030
- 50% reduction by 2050 These goals are coupled with measures such as carbon sequestration through tree planting on managed lands to realize the long-term vision of a net-zero transition.
Pic1. Annual Total Carbon Emission Reduction Targets of the Water Resources Agency, MOEA (Image Source: WRA “PAS 2080, The Manual of Carbon Management”)
Our branch office handles relevant business in accordance with the "Five-Year (2023-2027) Plan for Net-Zero Carbon Emissions in Water Engineering" established by the WRA:
I.Action Plan and Technical Guidelines
- Refinement of Carbon Reduction Guidelines:Recognizing that carbon reduction should occur throughout the entire life cycle of water engineering (planning, design, construction, and operation), our branch office collaborated with the WRA to compile the "Reference Guidelines for Carbon Reduction in Water Engineering". These include:
- Planning and Design Phase (Issued Feb 2022)
- Construction Phase (Issued July 2022)
- Operation and Management Phase (Issued Oct 2023) These guidelines establish carbon emission factors and calculation methods for common work items, clarify differences in carbon emissions between various construction methods, and suggest preliminary measures to enhance reduction effectiveness.
- Continuous Improvement and Data Analysis: Our branch office continues to collect performance records regarding "green expenditures" (including new methods and materials), update literature and technology, and analyze carbon reduction data. This information is incorporated into annual performance reports for the reference and continuous improvement of all WRA branches.
II. Talent Training and Mindset Transformation
To address the issue of "fixed traditional mindsets," the WRA and our branch office actively organize and participate in educational training, lectures, and contribute to engineering publications. We aim to share experiences in carbon reduction management and convey critical information to all members of the value chain.
- Personnel Roles: Designers focus on introducing new concepts and carbon calculations; supervisors and construction personnel implement carbon reduction measures through quality control systems during the construction phase.
- Professional Certification: We conduct training for carbon management talents, covering standards such as ISO 14064-1, ISO 14064-2, ISO 14067, and ISO 14068-1. These courses range from basic awareness to practical implementation, ensuring that water resources personnel possess the professional skills to execute carbon audits and reductions.
III. Modular Design for Water Retention and Irrigation
The WRA promotes the symbiosis of "Green and Water" to increase carbon sinks through afforestation. To address low survival rates of transplanted trees due to insufficient water or nutrients, our branch office has:
- Completed the Qiding Experimental Station for water retention and irrigation facilities.
- Optimized modular design methods and produced teaching materials for water retention and irrigation.
- Scheduled training courses for 2026 to enhance the technical capabilities of WRA personnel. The goal is to achieve substantial carbon reduction in engineering projects through smart precision water use, ensuring the effectiveness of carbon sequestration through tree planting.