China has reported surpassing its first-phase compliance targets for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the potent greenhouse gases used as refrigerants and foam agents. A vice-minister from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the country has destroyed 17,000 metric tons of HFC-23 annually over the past five years, a reduction equivalent to over 250 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Since accepting the Kigali Amendment in 2021, China has cut HFC production by 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent and consumption by 759 million tons from baseline levels. The country also tightened import-export controls, confirming 2,312 export batches with importing countries in 2025 and preventing illegal trade of 366 tons of controlled substances. Officials acknowledged bottlenecks in commercializing alternatives for industrial refrigeration and polyurethane foam, while the solvent sector has fully phased out HCFCs under a nationwide ban effective July 2026. The announcement came at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment's adoption.
