Taiwan Chipmaking Giant TSMC Targets Net Zero Emissions By 2050

The world’s largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), says it aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The target date, which matches a plan announced by President Tsai Ing-wen in April, comes after TSMC set a short-term goal of zero emissions growth by 2025.

Last year, Greenpeace called on tech powerhouse Taiwan to be much more aggressive in tackling climate change, in the face of the subtropical island’s risks from extreme weather and rising sea levels.

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The company, which counts Apple and Qualcomm among its major clients, will “set related mitigation measures” and actively adopt the use of renewable energy, it added.

“TSMC is deeply aware that climate change has a severe impact on the environment and humanity. As a world-leading semiconductor company, TSMC must shoulder its corporate responsibility to face the challenge of climate change,” Chairman Mark Liu said in a statement.

“TSMC will continue actively evaluating and investing in all types of opportunities to reduce carbon emissions.”

Tsai said in April that the government had begun to assess how the island can reach zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, after environmental groups criticised Taipei for not doing enough to fight climate change.

COAL POWER

Taiwan’s previous target, set in 2015, was to halve emissions between 2005 and 2050.

Last year, coal provided 45% of Taiwan’s electricity, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) a close second at almost 36%, according to the economy ministry.

Coal’s contribution to Taiwan’s power mix is set to fall to below 30% by 2025, with the proportion of LNG rising to around 50% and renewables to 20%, from just 5.4% last year, according to government plans.