The Montreal Protocol has struck a deal with China to phase-out hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC) production eliminating eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, according to a statement from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).
The London-based EIA said funding worth $US385 million has been made available from the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund to help China eliminate HCFC production.
EIA senior campaigner Clare Perry said the decision was reached at the most recent meeting of the Multilateral Fund, and is a major step forward in the accelerated phase-out of HCFCs.
"The elimination of the production of over 4.3 million metric tonnes of HCFCs will prevent emissions of eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (Co2), equivalent to emissions from 1.6 billion cars, one-and-a-half times the global motor vehicle fleet," Perry said.
HCFCs are chemicals used mainly in air conditioning, refrigeration, foam blowing and solvents. They are also used as feedstock for other products such as Teflon feedstock use of HCFCs is not regulated by the Montreal Protocol as it is deemed that the HCFCs are entirely consumed in the process and not emitted to the atmosphere.
However, the production of HCFC also results in the unwanted production of HFC-23, a super greenhouse gas 14,800 times more damaging to the climate than Co2.
While destruction of HFC-23 is relatively easy and inexpensive, some Chinese plants allow HFC-23 by-product to be vented, resulting in growing atmospheric concentrations.
According to a statement from the Multilateral Fund, China has agreed "to manage HCFC production and associated by-product production in HCFC plants in accordance with best practices to minimize associated climate impacts.”
This stops short of mandating HFC-23 destruction in all plants, but does demonstrate China's willingness to follow best practice as currently followed by HCFC producers in developed countries where HFC-23 is routinely destroyed.
EIA is calling on China to formally pledge to destroy the HFC-23 from all Chinese HCFC production facilities, including facilities which produce HCFC for feedstock.
