Delay in Announcement of Carbon Fee Committee Members: Ministry of Environment Stresses Conflict of Interest Verification

The Ministry of Environment originally planned to announce the Carbon Fee Review Committee members by the end of February. Still, it has not been made public. Climate Change Administration Deputy Director-General Wei-Ming Huang stated today that selected experts and scholars are prohibited from concurrently serving as directors or supervisors of entities subject to carbon fee collection. They are also required to sign a declaration of avoiding conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, government agencies and civil organizations are expected to finalize their recommendations for candidates this week.

Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Fuh-Sheng Shieu, recently mentioned in a joint interview that an estimated 21 Carbon Fee Review Committee members would be selected by the end of February. This includes 8 experts and scholars, 7 representatives from official ministries, and 6 representatives from civil and environmental organizations. The representation from civil organizations includes both environmental and social welfare groups, as well as industry associations, to ensure diverse perspectives.

Shieu further noted that after the formation of the Carbon Fee Review Committee, two committee meetings are scheduled for March. The Deputy Minister of the Environment will serve as the convener of the Carbon Fee Review Committee, expecting the carbon fee rates to be announced smoothly this month.

Reference: udn