This study explores the challenges and opportunities faced during the governance process of Taiwan’s net-zero transition, with a particular focus on policy integration, legal frameworks, and organizational aspects between the central and local governments. This study is comprised of three approaches. Approach 1 will employ questionnaire surveys and involve focus groups to examine the overall framework of Taiwan’s net-zero governance. Approach 2 will investigate the specific challenges encountered by local governments in fulfilling their net-zero commitments and governance. Approach 3 will address the key issues identified in approaches 1 and 2 from the perspective of social communication by engaging with the general public and the youth, aimed at making relevant policy recommendations.

The methods employed in this study, in addition to secondary data analysis, mainly include questionnaire surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and action research. In addition, the expected major outputs of this study include a technical report reviewing net-zero policies and laws, a survey report on net-zero risk perception, a publicly accessible climate governance barometer network, and policy recommendations for Taiwan's net-zero governance. Beyond conference papers, there will also be analytical reports on local government questionnaires, and technical reports on comparative research of East Asian developmental states. Furthermore, this study will involve holding youth training seminars and the 2050 Youth Vision Workshop, releasing the 2050 Youth Statement of Net-zero Carbon Emission Pathways, and publishing a series of special reports on youth forums/discussions, as well as publishing books or collections of results on climate action practices upon this study’s completion.

This study focuses on three niches. First, it aims to comprehensively review the framework of net-zero governance by developing a climate governance barometer and releasing a review report of policies and regulations. Second, it seeks to identify the gaps in data and practices among various cities and counties in Taiwan, highlighting governance issues that can be addressed through collaboration between the central and local governments. Finally, this study emphasizes the importance of broad societal discussions to enhance social acceptance of the transition, recognizing that the co-creation of a vision can provide legitimacy for both central and local governments in the process of transition governance.