Country Profile
Population: 23.3 Million (2022)
Major Threats: Floods, Earthquakes, Typhoons, Landslides, Drought
Populations Affected: Urban and Rural Communities
Locations Affected: Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Huailien, Chiayi, Nantou
Industries Affected: Agriculture, Hospitality, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Transportation
Compounding Issues: Water Shortages, Water Pollution, Drought, Livelihoods, Energy Outages, Environment
World Risk Index Ranking: 95
Global Climate Risk Index: 116 (2021)
Located in East Asia, Taiwan boasts a mountainous terrain and fertile volcanic soils that have enriched the region for centuries. These natural assets have gained recent recognition and are aligned with the green tourism program. This program aims to tap into the wealth of a rich culture and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It serves as a crucial component of the economic recovery plan following the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted international travel and caused a significant downturn in the hospitality industry.
Over the past decade, Taiwan has been grappling with the effects of global warming, with various climate disasters intensifying, prompting growing concerns among both the government and international agencies. What was predicted decades ago is now unfolding as a stark reality.
Geographically, Taiwan is located in a disaster-prone zone. Heavy rainfall, floods, typhoons, landslides, and droughts are Taiwan’s five most significant threats that have caused loss of life.
In the early 1960s, Taiwan’s economic growth depended on its agricultural production sector, such as rice and sugar. In recent decades, that has shifted to become one of the world’s largest electronics producers, prompting foreign investment and resulting in initial industrialization.
With such aggressive manufacturing expansion, a natural disaster is also considered a man-made disaster due to industrial development.
In the past decade, the change in weather patterns has been felt with water sea level rise and the intensity of rain leading to flooding and debris flow. Taiwan depends on the annual rain season as a water supply for their reservoir to meet their country’s needs.
However, increasing temperatures from climate change result in limited rainfall leading to extended drought in some areas. It is challenging for the government to address these issues to provide adequate solutions for farmers and residents, as well as industrial needs, as it consumes up to 19 percent of the country’s water.
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