Tackling China's Emissions of HFCs - with Prof Hu Jianxin

Today we will be talking about China’s efforts to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS), a class of refrigerant with huge impacts on the climate. Our guest today is an expert on the topic, Prof Hu Jianxin. Professor Hu holds bachelor's and masters degrees in Chemistry from Peking University. He has been on the faculty at Peking University since 1986, and is currently professor at the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, and also the Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Peking University. He has published numerous academic studies of HFCs, focusing on potential emissions reductions pathways as well as the cost of mitigation in various sectors. He was involved in the negotiations leading up to the Kigali Amendment as well as several other international agreements.

Topics addressed in this episode:

• How Prof Hu got started investigating HFCs
• Who needs to take action to reduce emissions of HFCs: chemical manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, consumers and repair/maintenance industry
• Near-term strategies for reducing and recycling HFCs
• Substitutes for HFCs (HFOs) - their costs, efficiencies, and timelines
• What does it mean when your air conditioner breaks and the repair person says you need more refrigerant

For further reading:

Fuli Bai et al., “Pathway and Cost-Benefit Analysis to Achieve China's Zero Hydrofluorocarbon Emissions,” Environmental Science and Technology 57(16), April 2023, at https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00166. 

Liya Guo et al., "Projected increases in emissions of high global warming potential fluorinated gases in China" Communications Earth & Environment, June 2023, at htttps://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00859-6. 

Lisha Liu et al., “Historical and projected HFC-410A emission from room air conditioning sector in China,” May 2019Atmospheric Environment 212(4), May 2019, at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.05.022.

Feng Hao, "Chinese manufacturers under pressure to phase out HFCs," China Dialogue, 28 November 2016, at https://chinadialogue.net/en/pollution/9426-chinese-manufacturers-under-pressure-to-phase-out-hfcs/. 

Some useful acronyms:

HFCs: Hydrofluorocarbons (replacement for CFCs but a dangerous greenhouse gas and hence targeted for reduction under the Kigali Amendment)

HCFCs: hydrochlorofluorocarbons (an ozone-depleting refrigerant)

CFCs: Chlorofluorocarbons (ozone-depleting refrigerant phased out by the original Montreal Protocol)

HFOs: Hydrofluoolefins (current and future substitute for HFCs)

UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme, pronounced "you-nep"

EPA: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency