Taiwan’s Environmental Problems

2.5.1 Taiwan’s Environmental Problems

From the sky to the ground, environmental and ecological problems grew in Taiwan.

Some of the problems are natural disasters such as a historical earthquake which had made great damages throughout the entire continent, the 921 earthquake. This earthquake took away many lives and people’s homes. However, most of the environmental problems come from human factors such as resource depletion and environment contamination.

Under the category of environment in G4 Specific Standard Disclosures, there are 11 aspects which are materials, energy, water, biodiversity, emissions, waste, products and services, compliance, transport, supplier environmental assessment, and environmental grievance mechanisms. Most of the aspects are for the company internally or are for stakeholders. In this chapter, we focus on the direct influence to Taiwan’s environment.

In this chapter, the study will discuss three matters.

 Water Problem

 PM 2.5 (Emissions)

 Taiwan’s Waste Problem

2.5.1.1 Water Problem

Water issues is essential. Of all the social and natural crises in humanity, water crisis is the most devastating problem. It affects every aspect of life especially to human health and it plays the most important role in food supply. As a result, the water issues in the environmental and ecological problems can cause the most attention.

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Currently, the water problem is a global crisis, there is no region can immune from the shock. According to a UNESCO report, rapid population growth, pollution and climate change has claimed a large number of mankind's most precious natural resources. So, in the future decade, the world will be facing water crisis. The Secretary General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura said, “The demand of water is overloaded, and the supply is gradually declining."

In Taiwan there are several problems in protecting water resources. These problems include rapid population growth, rapid increase in domestic and industrial water, inadequate water storage facilities drought resistance, reservoir sedimentation and other serious problems. Furthermore, the cause of all this problems are not only the inherent limitations of nature, but also the mentality of people and the political environment in Taiwan.

2.5.1.2 PM2.5 Problem

Currently, the most critical emission problem in Taiwan is PM2.5. The physician of National Taiwan University Hospital, Department of Medicine and the Cardiovascular Center, Su-Da Cheng said, for every 5 units increase in PM2.5, it will cause 55% of cardiovascular disease increases risk on a human body. A study which involved 689 people with average 46 in age has found that living in a higher black carbon concentration area creates thicker carotid arteries. It means higher chance to have atherosclerosis.

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Professor Jeng from National Taiwan University School of Public Health found an observation in an animal experiment. Under an environment of PM2.5 with 13μg/m3 for three months, the particulate matters are deep into the lungs, and can cause cardiovascular or coronary artery disease.

PM2.5 harms to human health, there is no use wearing a mask? Su-Da Cheng, the cardiovascular physician of National Taiwan University Hospital said, N95 masks are not effective against gaseous pollutants. Moreover, after wearing N95 masks for an hour, human cannot stand the feeling of hypoxia. Thus, it is impossible to wear all day.

Vice President Zhan, National Taiwan University School of Public Health showed that Taiwan’s PM2.5 standard is set at 15μg/m3. Standards set by the United States is 12μg/m3. But the World Health Organization has set at 10μg/m3. Many countries are tightening standards, Zhan appealed Taiwan revise the standards quickly. Currently, Taiwan’s annual average PM2.5 is nearly 30, Taipei is a double of international standard.

Central and southern Taiwan are exceeding 40 times. If Taiwan does not act anything, the air will never good for living. The table (Table 2-1) below shows Taiwan’s PM2.5 concentration in every county in recent 3 years.

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Particulate Matters 2.5 in yearly average concentration

2013 2014 2015 3 years average

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2.5.1.3 Taiwan’s Waste Problem

There are 12 million tons of industrial waste is produced each year in Taiwan. It has become a major pollution. According to EPA data, there is only 9% of annual waste has dumped the waste under the supervision of Waste Processing Mechanism. This means that many industrial waste disposal facility has no waste treatment facilities. The dumping of waste can be secretly mixed with general township garbage pit.

However, currently companies, Hon Hai, Pegatron, Quanta, Compal, have production factories in China except TSMC still has factories in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan.

Dumping waste in China cannot count as a CSR contribution in Taiwan. This aspect about companies’ production waste is meaningless in further discussion. The table (Table 2-2) below shows the locations of companies’ factories.

Table 2-2. Factories in Production

The numbers of Foxconn production bases are shown in Figure 2-7.

Factories in Production

Taiwan China

Foxconn Shenzhen, Henan

Pegatron Shanghai, Suzhou, Congqing, Kunshan

Quanta Shanghai, Congqing

Compal Kuanshan, Nanjing, Chengdu, Congqing

TSMC Hsinchu Science Park Start operation in 2018

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Pegatron’s factories locations illustrate in Figure 2-8.

Figure 2-8. Pegatron’s Factories Map

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Quanta’s factories locations illustrate in Figure 2-9.

Figure 2-9. Quanta’s Factories Map

Compal’s factories locations present in Figure 2-10.

Figure 2-10. Compal’s Factories Map

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TSMC has fab 2,3,5,8, and 12 locate in the Hsinchu Science Park. Fab 6 and 14 are located in the Tainan Science Park. Fab 15 is located in Central Taiwan Science Park.