Mitigating the Green Civil War: Contention and Coalition-Building in Taiwan’s Green Energy Transition

• In Event: 30883 - The Politics of Climate and Environmental Policy

Abstract

Since 2016, Taiwan’s nuclear-free homeland policy has accelerated the expansion of solar, wind, and geothermal energy as alternatives to nuclear and fossil fuels. However, the rapid rollout of renewable projects has triggered localized protests and resistance, reshaping contentious politics and electoral dynamics. This study analyzes 137 protest events from 2017 to 2024, revealing that opposition to renewable energy projects is not solely driven by economic concerns but is shaped by a complex interplay of political opportunities, environmental justice claims, and community mobilization strategies. Our findings indicate that community organizations play a central role in protest radicalization, particularly in leveraging elections as political opportunities for mobilization. By contrast, environmental organizations (ENGOs) serve as key mediators, often reducing conflict escalation and engaging in policy negotiations, civic education, and environmental impact assessments. The spatial dynamics of energy peripheralization further reveal that renewable energy projects are disproportionately located in lower-income counties and townships, but this trend is less consistent at the village level, where site selection is often dictated by land-use and resource availability rather than purely economic factors. These findings highlight the importance of site-specific engagement and negotiation in mitigating transition tensions—conflicts that arise from competing social values such as economic development, environmental conservation, cultural heritage, and energy justice. By recognizing diverse local interests and fostering inclusive stakeholder dialogue, Taiwan’s renewable energy transition can move beyond contentious politics toward sustainable coalition-building and just energy governance.

Authors

• Chunhao Huang, Academia Sinica

• Yun-Chung Ting, Academia Sinica

• Ming-sho Ho, National Taiwan University