A National Science and Technology Council and Ministry of Environment report projected that Taiwan could stop experiencing winters by 2060 due to climate change.
Taiwan summers could extend to over 150 days by 2040 and that winters could shrink to 45 days by 2050. It also predicted that summers could last seven months by the end of the 21st century, with 75 more days exceeding 36˚C.
Taiwan’s summers have lengthened by six to 12 days per decade over the past 50 years, with winters shortening by the same amount. The report indicated that winter begins later and ends earlier.
The report indicated that consecutive dry days across Taiwan would increase, along with drought intensity and frequency. Extreme rainfall would become the norm, potentially occurring once a decade.
Greenpeace warned that if global warming is not addressed properly, Taiwan’s sea level could rise by 0.56 meters by 2050 compared to 2000 levels, impacting about 1,398 square kilometers of the nation.
By 2050, New Taipei is projected to be the city most affected by rising sea levels, with 750,000 residents impacted, the highest among the six major cities. Tainan will have the largest affected area, with 426 square kilometers submerged.
Climate change has been impacting Taiwan’s agricultural production. Rising temperatures and unstable rainfall are expected to reduce rice yields, with declines exceeding 20% in the north and east.