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China's proposal to phase down HFCs

The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment has presented a plan to phase down HFCs in line with the requirements of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The country has not yet ratified it.

On May 21, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment presented a plan to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs in the country. This information is important since China is the world's largest producer of HFCs, and since it produces 70% of the air conditioners sold in the world.

 

China has not yet ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The amendment provides for an 80% reduction in HFCs by 2045 for most of the countries listed in Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, which include China. [1]

 

The plan presented on May 21 is consistent with the requirements of the Kigali Amendment. Among other things, it provides:

  • quotas to regulate the sales, production and use of HFCs,

  • leak management and refrigerant recovery and reclamation regulations with fines of up to RMB10m (€1,300),

  • sanctions and fines to punish the illegal sale of ozone-depleting substances or HFCs,
  • promoting research and development of technologies to detect these substances,
  • financial aid to support alternatives to HFCs as well as research to encourage their recovery or recycling.

 

This plan should enter into force after the approval of the State Council.

 

More information is available in English on the EIA website, or in Chinese on the Ministry of Ecology and Environment website.

 

[1] See the IIR summary sheet on the Kigali Amendment.