Smart Net-Zero

December 2, 2024 | UDN (United Daily News) (In Chinese) |

At the "Next Steps for Taiwan’s Economy" summit, Cathay Financial Holdings President Lee Chang-Keng called for a "Climate Industrial Revolution" to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He emphasized that current climate finance is far from sufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and needs to increase sixfold by 2030.

Blended finance, which leverages concessional capital from governments, NGOs, and international organizations to attract private investment, was highlighted as a practical solution. Lee pointed to successful applications, such as “Pay-for-Success” models and ecological insurance in wildlife conservation and rainforest protection.

He also cited Taiwan’s organic agriculture as an example, where early concessional funding helped overcome challenges like reduced yields. With strong consumer support, the sector achieved environmental sustainability. While scaling blended finance faces challenges such as standardization and low returns, Lee called for ongoing innovation to replicate successes and accelerate global climate action.