Taiwan is moving to classify extreme heat as a disaster-level weather event, joining its Asian neighbours in rolling out legal and institutional responses to intensifying heatwaves.
The move would pave the way for official “high-temperature leave” policies as the island braces for more frequent and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the island’s capital Taipei now experiences more than 70 days a year with temperatures exceeding 35°C. To address mounting heat-related risks, the agency plans to amend the Meteorological Act to include high temperatures within the legal definition of hazardous weather, giving future heat-related work and school suspensions a legal basis once standards are established.
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report, the region warmed by about 1.04°C above the 1991 to 2020 baseline, nearly twice the global average warming rate.
CWA Director-General Lu Kuo-chen said on 3 November that a draft amendment is expected to be announced later this month and could be passed as early as next year.
“We hope to implement it immediately once the amendment is approved,” Lu said, during a policy address livestreamed on the Legislative Yuan live broadcast.
He added that tropical depressions, known for triggering heavy floods such as the devastating 2018 deluge in southern Taiwan, may also be added to the same category.
Lawmakers have already submitted separate amendment proposals earlier this year, but the CWA has yet to finalise its version.
Lu told lawmakers that internal discussions were ongoing and that the draft will undergo a two-month public consultation once announced, followed by Cabinet review before submission to the legislature.
“Extreme heat events are becoming increasingly frequent, and Taiwan is no exception,” said Lu, suggesting that meteorological terminology be refined in law to clearly distinguish “weather” – short-term atmospheric conditions – from “climate”, referring to long-term averages in a region.
He emphasised that recognising heat as a form of disaster weather is “only the first step.”
Government agencies and industries must also prepare adaptation plans, as the effects of extreme heat vary across sectors – from farmers and fishers to construction workers and students, Lu added.
If the amendment passes, the CWA will gain the authority to issue more localised high-temperature warnings, moving beyond current region-wide alerts. The agency said it aims to provide more granular forecasts in the future, potentially down to township or district levels.
With the amendment, businesses could face short-term disruptions when high-temperature warnings trigger work suspensions, particularly in construction, logistics and manufacturing. But clearer rules may also help firms plan schedules and protect workers more effectively, reducing liability risks. In markets like Hong Kong, stock trading has occasionally been halted during severe weather warnings, showing that weather-related closures can ripple through financial systems as well.
The agency, however, has yet to determine the exact temperature that would trigger a “heat holiday”.
Under current internal guidelines, a yellow alert is issued for temperatures above 36°C, orange for above 38°C or three consecutive days over 36°C, and red when temperatures exceed 38 °C for three days in a row – though officials stressed these standards remain under discussion.
Taiwan’s move mirrors a growing trend across Asia, where governments and local authorities are developing formal frameworks to manage soaring temperatures and protect vulnerable groups.
In Japan, for instance, authorities launched a dedicated “Special Heatstroke Alert” system this year, covering the period from April until October.
By late July 2025, daytime temperatures had soared above 35°C in more than 270 observation points nationwide, prompting emergency advisories across the country.
Japanese firms have begun enforcing stricter outdoor work-rest cycles and shifting schedules to protect workers from heat stress.
In India, the government has rolled out nationwide “Heat Action Plans” guided by the National Disaster Management Authority and the Health Ministry. These plans include early-warning thresholds, hospital preparedness, and community awareness campaigns.
However, analysts caution that many cities still rely on short-term fixes and lack sustained funding and infrastructure to protect large, vulnerable populations.
