Development of Taiwanese government’s climate policy after the Kyoto protocol: Applying policy network theory as an analytical framework

• Taiwan is not a signatory to the UNFCCC or its Kyoto Protocol.
• International climate agreements strongly affected Taiwan׳s climate policy.
• Little evidence was found that domestic factors affect Taiwan׳s climate policy.
• New climate policies, regulations, and laws are formulated and implemented.
• Climate policies, targets, and regulations change frequently and are inconsistent.

Given its limited involvement in and recognition by international organizations, Taiwan is not presently a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or the Kyoto Protocol. The objective of this study is to analyze how and the extent to which changes in an exogenous factor, namely the Kyoto Protocol and Post-Kyoto climate negotiations, affect and ultimately lead to the formulation of and changes in the Taiwanese government׳s climate policy. This study applies policy network theory to examine the development of and changes in the Taiwanese government׳s climate policy. The results demonstrate that international climate agreements and negotiations play a key role in the development of, changes to, and transformation of Taiwan׳s climate policy. Scarce evidence was found in this study to demonstrate that domestic or internal factors affect climate change policy. Despite its lack of participation in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, Taiwan has adopted national climate change strategies, action plans, and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, these climate policies and measures are fairly passive and aim to only conform to the minimal requirements for developing countries under international climate agreements and negotiations. This process results in inconsistent and variable climate policies, targets, and regulations.