Climate Cooperation China
On behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)

China to include non-CO2 emissions in climate goals

At the Global Asset Management Forum 2021 Beijing Summit, Special Envoy for Climate Change XIE Zhenhua explained that achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 includes the emission of all greenhouse gases, not only CO2.

Photo Credit: Pixabay, JuergenPM

At the Global Asset Management Forum 2021 Beijing Summit on 24 July, Mr XIE Zhenhua said that China’s 2060 neutrality goal would not be limited to CO2 but would include all greenhouse gases.

This statement came just days before the MEE published the “Notice on Strengthening the Control of Trifluoromethane (HFC-23) Emissions as by-product” as a preparation to join the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. HFC-23 is one of eighteen types of hydrofluorocarbons to be gradually banned under the measure. It is a by-product of HCFC-22, a refrigerant widely produced in China and used for refrigerators and air conditioners. During the press conference, MEE officials confirmed intensified actions to strengthen the policy framework for HFC-23 reduction and to enhance the comprehensive collection of data on HFC emissions. As to this, the government will oblige firms to implement HFC-23 disposal technologies and to report annual data to the UNFCCC. China joined the Kigali Amendment on 15 September 2021. China’s announcement to curb other GHGs than CO2 as well was appreciated by international partners and non-governmental climate advocates in the run-up to COP26.

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