Work together to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change

Release time：2023-08-04 01:23:19  Author：Keshengmei  Viewed: 373 times

Recently, the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and The State Council on Deepening the Battle Against Pollution Prevention and Control (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions) were issued and implemented, and the environmental management of ozone layer depleting substances and HFCS was included in the Opinions, which shows that the CPC Central Committee and The State Council attach great importance to the environmental management of ozone layer depleting substances and HFCS. The direction is clear for strengthening the environmental management of ozone depleting substances and HFCS in the future.

China has made important contributions to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplet the Ozone Layer
To protect the ozone layer, the international community concluded the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplet the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) in 1985 and 1987 respectively. The Protocol is the only international environmental convention that all 197 countries in the world have joined, and has been called the most successful international convention so far by several UN secretaries General. China acceded to the Convention in 1989 and the Protocol in 1991. Over the past 30 years, China has faithfully fulfilled its obligations under the Protocol. In 2007, China phased out the production and use of perchlorofluorocarbons and halons for controlled uses two and a half years ahead of the Protocol. In 2010 and 2015, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide will be completely phased out in accordance with the requirements of the implementation of the agreement. Currently, China is phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons, the last category of ozone-depleting substances. As required, China has exceeded the targets set for a freeze in 2013, a 10 percent phase-out in 2015 and a 35 percent phase-out in 2020, and is on track to achieve a 67.5 percent phase-out by 2025. China has made important contributions to the healing and recovery of the ozone hole year by year. Since the vast majority of ozone-depleting substances are also greenhouse gases, phasing out ozone-depleting substances would also have huge benefits in mitigating climate change. According to an article jointly published by scholars from China, the US and other countries, from 1995 to 2014 alone, China avoided 11 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions due to the elimination of ozone-depleting substances.

 On September 15, 2021, the Kigali Amendment entered into force for China, which opened a new chapter in the history of concerted efforts to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.

Regulating ozone-depleting substances and HFCS will be a long-term task
According to the Protocol, China should phase out 67.5% of the baseline production and consumption of HCFCS by 2025 and 97.5% of the baseline level by 2030, reserve 2.5% of the baseline level for maintenance purposes on average from 2030 to 2040, and completely phase out HCFCS for controlled purposes by 2040. For HFCS, China needs to freeze the production and use of HFCS at baseline levels in 2024 (i.e., the annual average of HFCS from 2020 to 2022 plus 65% of the baseline level of HCFCS), cut by 10% of the baseline level in 2029, 30% in 2035, and 50% in 2040. An 80% cut by 2045.

According to the control requirements of the Protocol, China shall supervise the production, sale, use, import and export, recycling and destruction of each controlled chemical substance in place. As ozone-depleting substances and HFCS are mainly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam production, fire protection, semiconductors and other production and life fields, the annual output value of directly related products has reached trillion yuan. The emission of products will continue for more than 10 years or even decades after the relevant substances are phased out, and the uncontrolled use of ozone depleting substances and HFCS, namely raw materials, will also exist for a long time. Therefore, China's control of ozone depleting substances and HFCS will continue for the next 30 years or more.

In summary, China's large replacement and elimination of ozon-depleting substances and HFCS, huge industrial scale and complete industrial chain are closely related to such necessities as refrigeration, semiconductors and new energy products, which bring great challenges to the environmental management of ozon-depleting substances and HFCS in the future. The task of regulating ozone-depleting substances and HFCS over the next 30 years or more will be extremely difficult.

We will deepen the management of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons
As early as 2000, China included the control of Ozone-depleting substances in the Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, and enacted the Regulations on the Management of Ozone-Depleting Substances in 2010. Subsequently, the above laws and regulations were amended. The main objective and task of control is to reduce production and consumption. Over the past 30 years, through the implementation of the above laws and regulations as well as the support of international financial mechanisms, China has successfully implemented the Protocol. China is the largest country among developing countries in reducing the emission of ozone depleting substances, making outstanding contributions to the protection of the ozone layer and the mitigation of climate change. At present and in the future, China will focus on the following aspects to deepen the management of ozone depleting substances and HFCS:

First, update and improve regulations and systems. We revised the Regulations on the Management of Ozone-Depleting Substances, China's National Plan for Phasing out Ozone-Depleting Substances, China's List of Controlled Ozone-Depleting Substances, China's List of Import and Export Controlled Ozone-Depleting Substances, and the Measures for the Administration of Import and Export of Ozone-Depleting Substances to include HFCS in the control framework of the Protocol. We will continue to improve laws, regulations and management systems.

Second, formulate policies for the control of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons. We will formulate policy documents on strengthening the management of ozone-depleting substances, standardize the management of quotas and records of ozone-depleting substances, and strengthen the management of business activities such as the production, sale, use, maintenance, scrapping, recycling, recycling and destruction of ozone-depleting substances. In accordance with the requirements of the Notice on the Control of By-product HFC-23 Emissions, formulate regulations requiring enterprises to monitor and measure the production, destruction, storage, usage and sales of HFC-23 and submit relevant data, and actively fulfill the management requirements of the Kigalli Amendment on the control of by-product HFC-23 emissions. Formulate relevant policies for strict control of HFCS chemical production and construction projects, standardize the management of HFCS production industry, and ensure the realization of the implementation objectives stipulated in the Kigali Amendment.

Third, the implementation of hydrofluorocarbons import and export license system. China has officially started implementing the import and export license system for the import and export trade of HFCS from November 1, 2021. It is necessary to continuously manage the list of HFCS import and export enterprises. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs strengthened coordination and cooperation to carry out relevant examination and approval work for the import and export of HFCS. To study and establish a hierarchical and classified management mechanism for import and export enterprises of controlled substances in a timely manner. To strengthen the training of customs and Commerce Department management personnel, as well as HFCS import and export enterprises, study to strengthen information exchange through the mechanism of prior knowledge before export (iPIC), and continuously improve the ability of import and export management of ozone depletive substances and HFCS.

Fourth, we will strengthen capacity building for the management of ozone-depleting substances and HFCS. The relevant scientific and technological research needs for the implementation of the agreement will be incorporated into the national science and technology plan, research and development of new substitutes and alternative technology routes suitable for China, and support the full-life cycle research on the production, use, recycling, reuse or destruction of controlled substances. China plans to build an atmospheric monitoring network for controlled substances, gradually develop scientific early warning and effectiveness evaluation capabilities, study and improve relevant monitoring standards, methods, equipment and corresponding monitoring systems, and establish a monitoring and evaluation system for China's compliance with the Convention. We will support enterprises in technological innovation, and strengthen the development and promotion of alternative technologies through measures such as product green certification and government green procurement. At the same time, we will strengthen publicity and training for the implementation of the agreement, and form a good atmosphere for the whole society to participate in the implementation of the agreement.

To deepen the environmental management of ozon-depleting substances and HFCS is necessary to continuously protect the ozone layer and cope with climate change, to maintain the sustainable development of ozon-depleting substances and HFCS related industries, and to create a high-quality life and adhere to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. It is also part of China's efforts to showcase its image as a responsible major country and build a community with a shared future for mankind.