China cuts massive amount of ozone-depleting substances

China phased out 628,000 metric tons of ozone-depleting substances, or half of the total reduction by developing countries, as of last year, and is expected to eliminate another 90,000 tons this year, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The information was disclosed at an event held in Beijing to celebrate World Ozone Day, which falls on Sept 16 every year, and also the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which gave birth to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, finalized in 1987.

China has achieved this success through a combination of economic, technological, legal, and administrative measures aimed at phasing out ozone-depleting substances while actively guiding relevant industries toward a green and low-carbon transformation, said Yu Huiwen, vice-minister of ecology and environment, at the event.

In one of China's latest efforts, for instance, the State Council, the country's cabinet, approved a 2025-30 national plan for implementing the Montreal protocol in April, he said.

He said the plan provides a comprehensive action guide for strengthening the control of ozone-depleting substances and powerful heat-trapping gases known as HFCs, and achieving the country's national compliance targets.

Ozone-depleting substances are widely used in foam-blowing agents and refrigerants, while HFCs are used to replace ozone-depleting substances to avoid damaging the ozone layer.

Yu said the National Leading Group for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which was established in 1991, has organized a series of meetings to systematically deploy major initiatives and enhance departmental cooperation to form synergy.

He said the production, sale, and use of ozone-depleting substances have been regular targets for law enforcement across various levels of departments of ecology and environment.

Special enforcement inspections have been implemented to target key industries for ozone-depleting substances control, he said. Additionally, a one-on-one support mechanism has been established to assist key regions in consistently enhancing their capabilities in convention compliance and law enforcement.