China Launches US$265 million Ozone and Climate Change Project

UNEP   NEWS   CENTRE. Shanghai, December 2011 China's Ministry of Environmental Protection launched the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), a US$270 million project to cut consumption of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 1 January 2015.The HCFC-phaseout in China is impacting chemical production, foam, industrial and commercial refrigeration, air conditioners, refrigeration servicing and solvent sectors, whose total output amounts to billions of Renminbi and will involve tens of thousands of enterprises and millions of workers. At the launch, China's central governmental Ministries, industrial associations, local environmental protection bureaus, research institutes and universities as well as over 100 large companies, which produce and use HCFCs, guaranteed their support to the programme. In addition 12 selected companies representing the PU, XPS, room air conditioning, industrial and commercial refrigeration sectors signed the voluntary pledge to join hands for the conversion of their production lines as specified under the approved HPMP plan.

"China is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of HCFCs in the world: more than 70% of global HCFC production, and 50% of total consumption of developing countries. Therefore, the phaseout of HCFCs in China will play an essential role for the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol. In addition, it will also positively affect the mitigation of the global climate change due to their high GWP. However, in the past three years, the HCFCs in China has been increasing at 11% annually", said Mr. Lijun Zhang, Vice Minister of Environmental Protection of China.

Mr. Zhang added that "as a responsible developing country, China will earnestly live up to her promises and meet her commitments." In his speech, Mr. Zhang requested that industry comply with the HPMP's target, and urged the local Environmental Protection Bureau (EPBs) to strengthen their capacity for effectively enforcing the HCFC production and consumption control measures.

HCFCs are mainly used in China as refrigerants for air-conditioners and industrial and commercial refrigeration, as well as a blowing agent for foam and as solvent. Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, all Parties must gradually reduce and eventually phase-out their production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), including HCFCs.

Labeled as the "Factory of the World", China's phase-out of HCFCs is an ambitious mission, impacting industries which will have to convert hundreds of assembly lines to meet China's obligations as a signatory to the Montreal Protocol.

Based on Decision XIX/6 of the Meeting of the Parties in 2007, China must achieve a freeze in baseline consumption (2009-2010 average) by 2013 and a 10% reduction by 2015. The country's State Council enforced the ODS Management Regulations on 1 June 2010 to provide legal basis for the ODS phase-out work.

"The China HPMP has been well developed and has set the roadmap to meet these targets. We are therefore optimistic that the government, industries, relevant international organizations, and other key stakeholders will work together to ensure the success of this programme," said Mr. Christophe Bahuet, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director of China, the lead implementing agency for China's HPMP initiative.

Through the HPMP, 45,000 metric tons of HCFCs, or about 17% of China's total amount of controlled HCFCs use, will be eliminated. In addition, as part of the project, the new technologies to replace the HCFC technologies currently used by the industries will significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the country.

The funding for the HPMP was approved by the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in July 2011 to assist China in their historic commitment on environmental protection. UNDP, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Bank and the Governments of Germany and Japan are assisting China in their HPMP, and all participated in the launching event to lend their support. The Chairman of the Executive Committee and the Chief Officer of the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, representatives of donor member from Australia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States were also invited to the meeting.

"We at UNEP are very enthusiastic in assisting the government of China in their capacity-building and public awareness campaign on the phase-out of HCFCs. We very much appreciate the strong political commitment made by the Government of China in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and we are also very pleased to witness the pledge made by the industry" said Mr. Zhang Shigang, UNEP Coordinator in China in his address to participants at the launch.

Several Chinese celebrities have also expressed their support in the advocacy of ozone layer protection, including UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and Chinese actress Li Bingbing and world-renowned artist and UNEP Patron for Arts and Environment Profressor Yuan Xikun, who are both involved in voluntary projects for this cause.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Chen Hao, UNEP China Office, Tel: +86-10- 85320921, Email: hao.bath@gmail.com x

2 Degree Celsius Climate Target at Risk from Ozone-Friendly Replacement Chemicals

UNEP NEWS.11/21/2011.Bali (Indonesia)/Nairobi, 21 November 2011. Keeping a global, 21st century temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius will require urgent action on a group of chemicals increasingly being used in products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, firefighting equipment and insulation foams. The chemicals, collectively known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are becoming popular as replacements for those phased-out or being phased-out to protect the ozone layer—the Earth's high flying shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun's ultra violet rays.

But a report launched today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that by 2050 HFCs could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq) - comparable to total current annual emissions from transport, estimated at around 6-7 Gt annually.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "The more than 20 year-old international effort to save the ozone layer ranks among the most successful examples of cooperation and collaboration among nations—the original chemicals, known as CFCs, were phased-out globally in 2010 and countries are freezing and then phasing-out the replacements, HCFCs".

"However a new challenge is rapidly emerging as countries move ahead on HCFCs and that is HFCs. While these 'replacements for the replacement' chemicals cause near zero damage to the ozone layer, they are powerful greenhouse gases in their own right. The good news is that alternatives exist alongside technological solutions according to this international study and while assessing the absolute benefits from switching needs further scientific refinement there is enough compelling evidence to begin moving away from the most powerful HFCs today," he added.

HFCs are, along with CO2, methane and other gases, controlled under the UN's Framework Convention for Combating Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.

Measures to protect the ozone layer are carried out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

"Cooperative action between these treaties may be the key to fast action on HFCs, assisting to maintain momentum on recovering the ozone layer while simultaneously reducing risks of accelerated climate change," said Mr Steiner.

The new report HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer was launched today in Bali, Indonesia, at the 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.

The report is the first of three being launched this week by UNEP in the run up to the UN climate convention meeting in Durban, South Africa. (see Notes to Editors)

Key Findings from the HFC report

The contribution of HFCs to climate forcing is currently less than one per cent of all greenhouse gases.

But levels of HFCs are rising as they replace HCFCs—HFC 134a, the most popular type, has increased in the atmosphere by about 10 per cent per year since 2006.

The consumption of HFCs is projected to exceed the peak consumption levels in the 1980s of the old, now fully phased-out CFCs—this is primarily due to rising demand in emerging economies and a global population now above seven billion.

The phase-out and phase-down of CFCs and HCFCs since the late 1980s has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by around 8 Gt C02eq annually while reducing damage to the ozone layer. This has been a tremendous plus for global climate protection.

However, without action, the increasing use of HFCs could add annual greenhouse gas emissions of between 3.5 and 8.8 Gt C02 eq by 2050, and thus undo the large climate benefits scored by the phase out of CFCs and HCFCs since the late 1980s.

The report points to a range of alternatives that could ensure that the impact of HFCs remains small and equal to today's impacts.

Alternative Methods and Processes - these range from improved building design that reduces or avoids the need for air conditioners to fibre rather than foam insulation materials

Non-HFC substances - there are already commercially available alternatives that range from ammonia to dimethyl ether for use in foams, refrigeration and fire protection systems

Climate-friendly HFCs - some HFCs have shorter life-times in the atmosphere of months rather than years. Some of these are being introduced such as HFC 1234ze in foams and HFC-1234yf for mobile air-conditioners

The report points out that, with further technical developments backed by standards, investment incentives and training for technicians and workers, the introduction of alternatives to climate-damaging HFCs could be accelerated and fast-tracked.

Download Report: HCFs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer

23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

UN Climate Change Conference in Durban (COP17)

UNEP Launches Major Climate Reports Ahead of COP17 in Durban

HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer—a UNEP Synthesis Reportis

On 23 November at 11.30 am GMT UNEP, in collaboration with climate modeling centres, will launch Bridging the Gap: An Assessment which outlines the gap between the commitments and pledges of countries versus where emissions need to be by around 2020 in order to keep a global temperature rise under 2 Degrees C Venue: Kohn Centre, The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

On 25 November at 11.30am GMT, UNEP in collaboration with researchers will launch a report that outlines a package of 16 measures which could reduce global warming, avoid millions of premature deaths and reduce global crop yield losses by tackling black carbon, methane and ground-level ozone - substances known as short-term climate forcers.

Venue: The Conference Room, The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC will take place in Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011 http://unfccc.int

For more information please contact: Nick Nuttall, Acting Director UNEP Division of Communications and Public Information, on Tel: +254 733 632755 or when travelling +41 79 596 5737, nick.nuttall@unep.org