S.C. Chien, co-president of UMC, said: "UMC was invited along with 129 companies from Taiwan to participate in CDP’s latest evaluation. We are honored to be recognized for our climate change leadership for the fourth time, while achieving the highest marks in the categories of Scope 3 emissions , Scope 1 & 2 emissions , Governance , and Emissions Reduction Initiatives.”

UMC announced its climate change policy 10 years ago and was the first in the semiconductor industry to promote a "fluorine-containing greenhouse gas reduction plan" to replace C3F8 with C4F8, which has a higher gas utilization rate, to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the IC manufacturing process. The positive response and follow-up of many partners within the semiconductor industry have enabled C3F8 to be almost fully eliminated from the IC production process.

UMC is leading by example, and has been promoting gas reduction in its manufacturing facilities since 2010, with gas usage having been reduced by more than 20% compared to before the plan’s implementation. In addition, UMC reduced fluorine-containing greenhouse gases by 1.285 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2018, which is equivalent to the carbon absorption of approximately 254 of New York’s Central Park.

After completing the only carbon rights transaction approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in Taiwan, UMC has donated to society with its "Eco-Echo Award" environmental protection fund throughout the past four years. In 2018, more than 20,000 people participated in Eco-Echo Award program-related activities. In 2019, a “Youth Environmental Action Award” was also newly set up, providing young people with the opportunity to actively speak on behalf of environmental issues and protect the ecology under UMC’s initiative.

Co-president Chien continued, "UMC takes sustainable operation and fulfilling corporate citizenship as its top priority and will continue to invest in climate change prevention. After years of efforts, as of 2019, the fluorine content per unit area of greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by more than 50% compared to 2010. A large number of greenhouse gas reduction equipment is also being added, and carbon assets have been deployed in accordance with the voluntary reduction incentive mechanism announced by the government."

UMC took the lead in responding to the spirit of the CDP, linking industry value chains, inviting partners, suppliers and other global stakeholders to attach importance to the risks and opportunities brought by climate change and to integrate climate issues into overall business decisions. Looking to the future, UMC will also strengthen its own advantages and commit to the three aspects of environment, society, and governance (ESG) to continue to promote the concept of sustainability and exert key influence.