China urged to strengthen crackdown on CFC11 emissions
19th December 2019
CHINA: Reported to be the source of a rise in emissions of banned CFC11, a crackdown by Chinese authorities is said to have located only three small illegal CFC11 production sites.
In 2018, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported an unexpected rise in the banned ozone-depleting refrigerant and foam propellant CFC11. Fingers were pointed at China as the source. This was later supported by the Environmental Investigation Agency’s (EIA) report, Blowing It, which revealed evidence of the illegal use of CFC11 in China’s polyurethane foam sector.
Clare Perry, EIA’s climate campaigns leader applauded China’s ongoing enforcement efforts and that the latest atmospheric data indicates emissions were starting to come down as a result, but added: “There remain significant uncertainties in what has actually happened and the effectiveness of the enforcement actions so far.
“China has located only three illegal CFC11 production sites, with relatively small capacities which could not account for the level of illegal CFC11 production estimated by the Montreal Protocol’s technology experts (40,000-70,000 tonnes per year).
Perry was reacting to a report in Nature magazine today, which looks at the potential delay to the ozone hole recovery caused by unexpected CFC11 emissions. The paper, Delay in recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole from unexpected CFC-11 emissions, by researchers at the UK’s University of Leeds, examines the potential damage done. According to the paper, the delay could be as little as a few years if immediate action to stop the emissions is successful – ranging to as much as 18 years if emissions continue unabated.
Although agreeing with the authors that the worse-case scenario of an 18-year delay in the recovery of the ozone layer was unlikely, Perry said: “On the other hand, the likelihood of immediate effective action to stop the illegal emissions resulting in a delay of just a few years is a rather optimistic scenario.
“A fundamental problem is that we don’t know the actual CFC11 production level and the amount now contained in new foam materials – the “bank” – which ultimately will most likely leak to the atmosphere.”
The 2018 EIA report estimated this bank of CFC11 in the foam products created up to 2017 could be equivalent to almost four billion tonnes of CO2 (830,000 tonnes of CFC11).
“We are urging China to strengthen and enhance its enforcement efforts and undertake comprehensive testing of foams to better understand the situation,” added Perry.
Related stories:
CFC11 “widely produced” in China – 25 June 2018
USA: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) claims to have evidence that illegal CFC11 is being widely produced and used in China. Read more…
Scientists pinpoint major source of CFC11 emissions – 22 May 2019
UK: An international team of atmospheric scientists has pinpointed eastern China as the major source of the rise in emissions of ozone depleting CFC11 first reported last year. Read more…
China promises crackdown on CFC11 – 4 August 2018
CHINA: Chinese authorities have announced a crackdown on the illegal use and production of ozone-depleting substances, including CFC11. Read more…
Action promised to stop CFC11 use – 18 July 2018
AUSTRIA: The delegates to last week’s Montreal Protocol meeting have promised “a sweeping response” to evidence of a rise in CFC11 emissions. Read more…
CFC11 in China a “massive crime” – 9 July 2018
AUSTRIA: A shocking new report suggests the illegal production and use of the long-banned ozone-depleting chemical CFC11 is common practice in China. Read more…
Mysterious rise in CFC11 emissions – 16 May 2018
USA: An ozone depleting CFC refrigerant, thought to be virtually extinct following Montreal Protocol phase outs, has mysteriously reappeared in increasing amounts in the atmosphere. Read more…
