Briefings

8 November 2024 – In the run-up to the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, China enacted the Energy Law, which will enter into force 1 January 2025. The Energy Law is an overarching national statute that promotes and coordinates among the key government priorities for […]

Hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23), also known as trifluoromethane (CHF3), is a very potent greenhouse gas largely unintentionally created, for instance, as a byproduct during the production of fluorinated compounds and chemical feedstocks, including hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22. HFC-23 also has limited commercial uses, such as an ultra-low temperature refrigerant for specialized storage and manufacturing. HFC-23 has a 20-year global […]

On 10 September 2024, China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC) under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held a workshop on controlling emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). The workshop is an initial step, for N2O, in implementing the goal of “researching the development of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emission control action […]

30 July 2024- China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) released a draft regulatory amendment and an emission trading methodology to strengthen methane emissions reduction in the coal mine sector. Both documents are open for public comment until the dates specified below and may be formally promulgated in the coming months, subject to MEE internal […]

24 July 2024 – From January through July 2024, China agreed to various targets and measures to support the mitigation of fluorinated gas, including hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant recycling and recovery, including: Prohibition of direct emissions of refrigerants and requires recycling, reuse, and harmless disposal of these substances during servicing and end-of-life processes: […]

8 July 2024 – Today China issued a new policy document aimed at strengthening the management of production facilities for all eighteen hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) currently controlled under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. All are listed  This new document, the Circular on Strictly Controlling HFC Chemical Production […]

2 July 2024 – China has released a draft-for-comment version of the Circular on Strengthening Methane Control in Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects in Key Industries (“draft Circular” or “Circular”). The draft Circular requires methane-emission assessment in construction project environmental impact assessments (EIA) for key industry sectors, including the coal mining, oil and gas […]

2 July 2024– China has released a draft-for-comment version of the National Plan on the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2024-2030) (“draft Plan”). The draft Plan covers critical aspects of China’s proposed actions to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in fulfillment of China’s obligations […]

3 June 2024 – Today China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the Administrative Measures on Natural Gas Utilization (see English reference translation) to regulate the utilization of domestically produced and imported natural gas in China.[1] The Measures provide that the NDRC and the National Energy Administration are responsible for the nationwide administration of […]

29 May 2024 – China’s State Council issued the Action Plan for Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction in 2024-2025 (hereinafter referred to as the “Action Plan” or “Plan”) on 29 May 2024. The Action Plan announces major energy saving and carbon reduction targets that China aims to achieve by the end of 2025. The Action […]