China pledges to limit emissions of coolant that inflates greenhouse gases

SHANGHAI, Sept. 25 (Reuters) – China will take action to control emissions of HFC-23, a potent greenhouse gas created in the production of refrigerants, the Environment Ministry said on Saturday.

Beijing is facing pressure to phase out HFC-23 from its obligations under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Ozone-Depleting Substances, which entered into force in China this month.

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

An official from the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection said on his website that China’s 19 manufacturers of HCFC-22 must install approved disposal technologies for HFC-23 and submit annual data to broadcasts at 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 said.

Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

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