China pledges to limit emissions of coolant that swells greenhouse gases

China pledges to limit emissions of coolant that swells greenhouse gases

Beijing has been facing pressure to slash its HFC-23 emissions in its obligations under the Kigali Amendment.

China will gradually ban HFC-23, a potent greenhouse gas. (Pixabay pic)
SHANGHAI:
China will take action to control emissions of HFC-23, a potent greenhouse gas created during the production of refrigerants, the environment ministry said today.

Beijing is facing pressure to phase out HFC-23 in its obligations under the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, which took effect in China this month.

Also known as trifluoromethane, HFC-23 is one of 18 types of hydrofluorocarbons to be gradually banned under the measure. It is a by-product of HCFC-22, a refrigerant widely produced in China, although illegal in Europe.

An official of the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection said on its website that China’s 19 makers of HCFC-22 must install approved HFC-23 disposal technologies and submit annual emissions data to the United Nations.

They will also be encouraged to capture and use HFC-23 as a raw material, to keep it out of the atmosphere, the official was quoted as saying.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.