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In April, 2025, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Commerce, and General Administration of Customs, jointly issued a notice regarding the National Implementation Plan for China’s Compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025–2030).
The notice, addressed to provincial, autonomous regional, and municipal governments, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and various national departments—including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, and others—confirms that the plan has been approved by the State Council and must now be implemented diligently.
Scope of Regulation
The plan regulates nine categories of chemicals listed in the China Controlled Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) Inventory. These include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride (CTC), methyl chloroform, hydrobromofluorocarbons, bromochloromethane, methyl bromide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Of these, the first eight are ODSs, while HFCs, although not ozone-depleting, have a high global warming potential (GWP).
Core Goals: Phase-Out and Reduction Targets
The plan outlines a phased approach:
- ODS Phase-Out: A complete ban on the production and use of seven ODS categories (CFCs, halons, CTC, methyl chloroform, hydrobromofluorocarbons, bromochloromethane, and methyl bromide) for controlled applications, except for exempted or feedstock uses.
- HCFC Reductions: By 2025, production must be reduced by 67.5% and use by 73.2% compared to baseline levels (29,100 tons and 18,900 tons, respectively). By 2030, a 97.5% reduction will be achieved, retaining only 2.5% for servicing existing refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
- HFC Reductions: By 2029, China targets a 10% reduction in the production and consumption of HFCs from the baseline levels (1.853 billion tons CO₂ equivalent for production and 905 million tons CO₂ equivalent for consumption).
Eight Priority Measures for Full Lifecycle Management
The plan defines eight key action areas:
- Source Control: Implement quota-based licensing and enhance environmental assessments for production projects.
- Usage Management: Eliminate HCFCs in all industries by January 1, 2030, and reduce HFC use by at least 10% by January 1, 2029.
- End-of-Life Management: Improve systems for recycling, regeneration, and destruction of controlled substances.
- Import-Export Regulation: Tighten quota approvals and customs monitoring.
- Institutional Development: Promote green alternatives and improve energy efficiency.
- Enforcement and Monitoring: Strengthen compliance monitoring, early warnings, and scientific analysis.
- Standardization: Enhance environmental and technical standards.
- Global Cooperation: Increase international collaboration and raise public awareness.
Coordinated National Effort
The plan calls on all provincial governments and relevant ministries to coordinate and align efforts to drive a green, low-carbon transition. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment emphasized that this plan is crucial not only for meeting China’s obligations under international environmental agreements but also for supporting its broader “dual carbon” strategy—achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality—and contributing to global efforts in ozone recovery and climate change mitigation.
With this comprehensive plan, China reaffirms its commitment to environmental protection and global sustainability, offering a model for balancing ozone protection and climate governance.
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