China’s HFC emissions more than 20% of global total

CHINA: Figures claiming that China’s emissions of high GWP refrigerants now represent more than 20% of the global total have been described as untenable by the Environmental Investigation Agency.

A new study based on data from the Changdao (CHD) station show that emissions of three of the main HFCs in use today – HFC125 (GWP 3,500), HFC134a (GWP 1430) and HFC143a (GWP 4,470) – increased to 206.4MtCO2e in 2022. The Changdao station is in northern China, where most of the fluorochemical industry is based.

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) warns that the threat this poses to the planet’s climate could actually worsen as China’s requirement to cap its HFC use under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol actually gives it room to increase its emissions.

The Kigali Amendment, which China officially adopted in 2021, requires China, as a developing country, to cap its HFC use in 2024 at a baseline level and reduce it by 10% by 2029.

“However, China’s 2023 consumption of HFCs was 769.4Mt which amounts to only 85% of the actual baseline cap – meaning that under the current rules, the country can actually increase its consumption (and therefore emissions) by 15%,” the EIA claims in a press statement.

EIA UK Climate Campaign Lead Clare Perry claims that the baseline calculation under the Kigali Amendment “provides too much room for growth” and takes away some of the ambition from this global agreement.

“Even in four years from now, when a 10% reduction from the baseline is required, China can actually increase HFC use from current levels by some 45.2Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent – and the next reduction step does not occur until 2035,” Perry said.

“This is untenable given we are facing a global climate crisis and urgently need to cut all greenhouse gas emissions this decade.”

As the world’s leading producer of HFC refrigerants, and also a leading manufacturer of the equipment that uses them, the EIA insists that China is in a prime position to take ambitious steps to move away from reliance on these gases.

The EIA warns that the current global regulation of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol was insufficient to ensure the rapid emissions reductions needed to secure a safe climate. It has called on China and other parties to the Montreal Protocol to follow the lead of the EU and accelerate action to phase out HFCs.