Emergy Analysis of Ecological Economic System in Taiwan

This study utilizes emergy analysis model to study the sustainable development of Taiwan. Findings showed that total emergy use in 2007 was 3.14x10(23)sej, emergy of renewable resources was 1.30x10(22) sej emergy of nonrenewable resources was 2.26 x 10(23) sej, emergy of products from renewable resources was 1.30x10(22) sej, emergy of currency flow was 8.02x10(22) sej and emergy of wastes flow was 6.55x10(22) sej. Moreover, Taiwan's emergy per capita and the utilization rate of emergy is lower while the environmental loading rate is significantly higher comparing to some other countries. The foregoing findings indicate that Taiwan currently belongs to an economic development pattern based on high resource-consumption. The economic development is mainly established on the exploitation and utilization of nonrenewable resources. Therefore, Taiwan should change the development pattern, regulate the industrial structure, promote the utilization rate of resources, develop green pollution-free products and enhance the sustainable development of ecological economic system.