SEMICON TAIWAN 2022 - SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT
REMARKS BY AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE JENNY BLOOMFIELD
14 SEPTEMBER 2022
Introduction:
As is customary in Australia, I would first like to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of Australia and Taiwan and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
I am very pleased to again have the opportunity to take part in SEMICON Taiwan, the leading event for the global semiconductor industry in which Taiwan plays such an integral role.
And I am delighted to address this session on Sustainability, as well as a separate session tomorrow on Workforce Development - Women in Semiconductors on the theme of ‘Unleashing the potential of women’s leadership’ – both issues that are close to my heart, and key issues for all of us as we work to ensure a sustainable, prosperous future.
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is a vital component of global supply chains. And in Taiwan, as in Australia and around the world, industry has a key role to play in tackling climate change and driving the global transition to a low-carbon future.
Australia’s energy and climate action strengths:
Taiwan is a semiconductor and ICT superpower.
And Australia is an energy and resources superpower – we are the largest exporter of iron ore, lithium, LNG and metallurgical coal, with an abundance of the critical metals and minerals that are essential in our modern life.
As Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese has said, Australia can also be a renewable energy superpower.
Australia has an unmatched natural advantage in clean energy, and all of the key ingredients needed to be a major player in the global energy transition.
We have abundant clean energy resources, and significant research and innovation strengths.
We have a strong commitment to achieving net-zero domestically. We have set a new ambitious 2030 target to reduce emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels; by 2030, we expect to see the portion of renewable energy in our national energy market increase to 82 per cent; and we are making significant investments to drive the transition to net zero across our economy.
We are building strong partnerships, and we are supporting enhanced climate action in our region, including through increased climate finance and new partnerships in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
We are a trusted global partner on climate action, and we have a long, proud history as an established and reputable energy exporter in the Indo-Pacific and globally, which uniquely positions us to lead this transformational economic change.
Australia-Taiwan partnership:
Australia and Taiwan are natural partners in this endeavour.
We have a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship and friendship.
And we complement each other as energy and resources partners.
Australia is proud to be Taiwan’s largest provider of energy and resources, and Taiwan is Australia’s fifth largest energy export market, and fifth largest merchandise export market overall. Two-way goods trade and investment are at record highs, at AUD32 billion (FY2021-22) and AUD34.2 billion (2021) respectively.
Our partnership delivers a secure supply of energy resources for Taiwan, and a stable investment and export market for Australian resources. And as the world transitions to a net zero emissions future, we have enormous new opportunities to further deepen our cooperation.
Indeed, as Prime Minister Albanese has said, to reach net zero by 2050, annual clean energy investment globally will need to more than triple, with the Indo-Pacific a leading target (accounting for nearly 80 per cent of clean energy investment last year). This presents a world of opportunity for Australia, for Taiwan and for our region.
Low-emissions technologies like hydrogen will be key in ensuring regional energy security and resilience while advancing net zero goals. And we welcome the opportunity for cooperation with Taiwan on low emissions technologies such as clean hydrogen and low emissions steel and iron ore.
Australia’s hydrogen industry is at a promising stage of development. In a major milestone, Japan received the world’s first shipment of liquefied hydrogen from Australia just a few months ago – part of the A$500 million Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project, which is the first in the world to extract, liquefy and transport liquid hydrogen by sea to an international market.
We are very pleased that Taiwanese and Australian companies have commenced conversations on hydrogen collaboration, and we look forward to concrete partnership opportunities.
Australia and Taiwan are also deepening cooperation in English language education, VET and talent and skills training, and science and technology including women in STEM - building on our close youth and people to people links - to help develop the diverse, highly skilled global workforce we need to drive key industries forward in the new energy economy.
As close energy and resources partners, Australia and Taiwan are well placed to make our collaboration thrive – ensuring consistent, reliable and affordable energy supply while reducing greenhouse emissions. We look forward to working even more closely together to promote a low-emissions future and our shared prosperity. Thank you.