摘要
塑膠污染已成為政府日漸增長的威脅，極需發展減緩塑膠污染的措施。台灣為全球回收率最高的國家之一，且已發展許多減少塑膠使用和污染的措施，本文回顧台灣環境NGO（環團）、媒體、政府與其他權益關係人減少塑膠使用和污染的策略、行動和政策。
我們透過文獻回顧、兩位深耕此議題多年的共同作者，與一份專家問卷來蒐集資訊。文中先提供台灣過去的環境發展歷史背景，接著回顧在歷經三次政黨輪替下，相關權益關係人（環團、媒體、政府與產業）在塑膠污染問題上的主要貢獻。
第一階段為2000-2008年，此階段環團接觸淨灘、監測與推廣，用來提昇大眾意識與推展相關政策。此階段其他權益相關人較少回應。
第二階段是2008-2016年，此階段環團學習更多科學方法，增加大眾推廣，包含舉辦科學論壇與出版報告。作為回應，媒體開始報導此議題，但政府僅寥寥回覆，因為公部門仍舊將塑膠污染視為整潔問題，僅需透過淨灘來解決。
第三階段為現任政權，環團持續活躍，而媒體突然大量報導。巧合的是，更積極與正向的政府，推出一份野心勃勃、史無前例、橫跨10年的行動方案，納入更進一步的源頭減量、海廢移除、科學監測研究，與公眾參與。專家意見亦指出近年最有成效的政府政策、報告與媒體活動。由於環團長久以來的一致努力以影響其他權益關係人，台灣已成為面對塑膠污染問題相對成功的案例。認知到此案例的獨特性，我們期許能激發其他政府能運用台灣的經驗作為藍圖，產出更協調的行動，以處理塑膠污染問題。
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become an increasing threat to the environment, and means to mitigate it need to be developed. Since Taiwan has achieved one of the world’s highest recycling rates and has introduced numerous policies to reduce plastic use and pollution, we here review the strategies, actions, and policies by Taiwan’s environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), media, government and other stakeholders to reduce plastic use and pollution. The information was obtained through a literature review, the expertise of two authors who worked on this topic for many years, and a questionnaire which harnessed expert opinions. We first provide some necessary historical background about the development of environmental issues in Taiwan over the last few decades. We then review the main contributions of each stakeholder (ENGOs, media, government, and industry) to the plastic pollution problem during Taiwan’s last three national governments. The first phase during the 2000-2008 government was characterized by ENGOS learning cleanup, monitoring, and outreach methods which they used to raise public awareness and promote relevant policies. There was little response from the other stakeholders. The second phase during the 2008-2016 government was characterized by ENGOs learning more scientific methods and increased public outreach, including scientific conferences and reports. In response, the media began to report on this issue, while the government drifted with few responses because they continued to see plastic pollution as a litter problem to be solved mainly through cleanup activities. The third phase during the current government was characterized by continued ENGO activities and a sudden explosion of media interest; this coincided with a much more active and positive government approach which culminated in an ambitious, unprecedented, and wide-ranging 10-year Action Plan which will greatly advance source reduction and removal of plastic waste, scientific monitoring and research, and public outreach. A summary of expert opinion determined the most effective governmental policies, reports, and media campaigns in recent years. Due to the concerted long-time efforts by ENGOs to influence other stakeholders, Taiwan has become a relatively successful example of how to tackle the plastic pollution problem. While we acknowledge the distinctiveness of this example, we nevertheless hope to inspire a more concerted effort by other governments to tackle the plastic pollution problem using Taiwan’s example as a blueprint.
Walther BA, Yen N, Hu C-S. (2021). Strategies, actions, and policies by Taiwan’s ENGOs, media and government to reduce plastic use and marine plastic pollution. Marine Policy, 126, 104391.