從歷史制度論探討臺灣與韓國限塑政策之異同

Abstract

本文在2024聯合國《全球塑膠公約》頒布之際，嘗試以「歷史制度論」檢視臺灣與韓國限塑政策的制訂背景及發展歷程，從中了解並比較臺灣與韓國在關鍵時刻出現時所作之抉擇，以及主要行為者間的競合關係。臺灣與韓國為生活型態相似的國家，近年來兩國外食人口和網路購物的數量成長，讓「生活型塑膠垃圾」如塑膠袋、塑膠容器、免洗餐具、吸管、宅配包裝等一次性塑膠愈來愈多，尤其COVID-19出現後，臺韓兩國的民眾改變原有的生活習慣及消費型態，急劇增加的塑膠垃圾亦使立法委員、環保公民團體對限塑政策之執行成效提出質疑。本研究發現臺灣與韓國限塑政策的起源看似相似，且臺韓兩國制度發展的既得利益者皆為「國家機關」。然而，從政府公開資料來看，後疫情時代臺韓兩國的生活型塑膠垃圾同樣是逐年成長，這歸因臺灣與韓國在面臨COVID-19和全球環境趨勢等重大議題時，主要行為者遵循利益脈絡的互動關係影響其路徑軌跡，進而發展出各自的限塑政策模式。The main purpose of this study is a comparative analysis from single-use plastic policy between Taiwan and South Korea before enacting “Global Plastics Treaty” in 2024 by applying historical institutionalism theories. Including the reason of the development of policies, and what main actors do in the conjuncture. Since people in Taiwan and South Korea often eat out and shop online, there is a lot of disposable plastic waste, such as plastic bags, plastic containers, disposable tableware, straws, online shopping packaging. Especially since COVID-19 crisis happened, people who change their lifestyle and consumption habit to increase household plastic wastes. All the situations made members of the Legislative Yuan and NGOs in both nations to question the result of plastic policies.This study found that the origins of plastic policy in Taiwan and Korea appear to be similar, also the vested interests of the plastic policy in both nations are “government offices.” However, judging from public government data, household plastic waste in Taiwan and South Korea has also grown year by year in the post-epidemic era. This is attributed to the fact that major actors follow individual interests whenever facing major processes such as COVID-19 and environmental trends. The interactive relationship of the actors have an impact on the path dependence of study to lead both nations develop the different policy model in plastic policy.