Report reveals significant progress in China’s greenhouse gas targets

China has significantly outperformed its initial compliance goals for reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), according to announcements made by environmental authorities in Beijing that were reported by China Daily.

Speaking at an event commemorating the 2026 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer alongside the tenth anniversary of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, Xu Bijiu, vice-minister of ecology and environment, outlined key achievements in national climate strategy.

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Over the preceding five years, the annual elimination of 17,000 metric tonnes of HFC-23 alone has delivered reductions equal to more than 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Since formally accepting the Kigali Amendment in 2021, the country has lowered HFC production by approximately 1.2 billion tonnes and reduced consumption by 759 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent compared to baseline measurements.

Although HFCs do not harm the ozone layer directly and were originally introduced to replace ozone-depleting compounds, their potent global warming impact prompted the 2016 adoption of the Kigali Amendment to systematically phase down their manufacture and use, China Daily said.

Advancing regulatory measures for China’s greenhouse gas targets

To meet broader environmental goals and uphold China’s greenhouse gas targets, authorities have implemented strict regulatory framework mechanisms. Over 50,000 businesses are currently registered under a national system managing quotas, licensing, and filing for controlled substances across their entire lifecycle.

Border controls have also been strengthened; an informal advance consent system enabled officials to verify 2,312 export consignments in 2025, successfully halting the illegal movement of 366 metric tonnes of restricted compounds. China currently accounts for more than 50 percent of all ozone-depleting substance reductions achieved across developing countries, according to China Daily.

Despite these successes, Xu acknowledged ongoing hurdles, including overlapping phase-out timelines and technical bottlenecks in commercialising replacement chemicals for industrial refrigeration and polyurethane foam. Nevertheless, he reiterated a firm commitment to international environmental cooperation and multilateral agreements.

In a related development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) celebrated the total elimination of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) within China’s solvent industry under Stage II of the Montreal Protocol. Following a national ban on HCFC cleaning agents enacted on 1 July 2026, an exchange conference in Beijing highlighted the milestone.

Stefan Liller, UNDP resident representative in China, remarked that completing the solvent sector transition demonstrated that industrial evolution and environmental management can be accomplished together effectively as part of long-term commitments to China’s greenhouse gas targets.