A recent Greenpeace study warns that petrochemical air pollution threatens the health of millions across Taiwan. The organization found that about 9.1 million residents live close to petrochemical plants and face high pollution exposure. This number amounts to nearly 40% of Taiwan’s population living within five kilometers of these facilities.
The report lists 191 petrochemical plants located in 13 counties and cities. Among these areas, Kaohsiung has the highest number of sites, with 50 plants affecting roughly 1.6 million people. Following closely are Taoyuan and Tainan, with 31 plants each. Taoyuan’s petrochemical air pollution exposure affects about 1.98 million residents, while Tainan sees about 1.58 million people at risk.
Moreover, Greenpeace project manager Chang Kai-ting highlights that vulnerable groups are deeply affected. Approximately 1.15 million children and 1.59 million elderly residents live near these plants. The high-risk zones also contain 4,067 schools and care institutions such as kindergartens, elementary schools, junior highs, and nursing homes.
If the study expands the radius to 10 kilometers from the plants, the exposure risk rises dramatically. In this scenario, as many as 15.72 million people—around 70% of Taiwan’s population—could face petrochemical air pollution threats.
In response, the Ministry of Environment has launched a new pollution reduction plan. This initiative aims to improve air quality through several measures. Officials are building monitoring networks, compiling detailed pollution source inventories, and offering emission-reduction guidance to industries.
Ministry official Huang Wei-ming explains that the plan prioritizes areas with the highest pollution risks, including Yunlin’s Mailiao and Kaohsiung’s Linhai and Linyuan petrochemical zones. These locations already have advanced long-term monitoring stations in place. Furthermore, the ministry will hold consultations with industrial zones to promote upgrades in pollution control equipment.
Through these efforts, Taiwan hopes to manage petrochemical air pollution more effectively and improve public health. The government’s focus remains on protecting vulnerable populations while reducing harmful emissions across the country.
Overall, the Greenpeace report and government actions underline the urgent need to address petrochemical air pollution to safeguard millions of Taiwanese.
