From Ozone Layer Protection to Mitigation of Climate Change: Perspective of Subtropical Regional Actions as “Pure Consumer”

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are chemicals harmful to the intact state of Ozone Layer and thus to be gradually eliminated and finally phased out as per schedules of Montreal Protocol. Nowadays, China had fulfilled its obligations to eliminate a variety groups of ODS substances according to schemes of the Protocol and had only to focus on phasing out the last remaining group of ODS- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2030. Meanwhile, the most widely used alternatives for ODS called Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) had arose new concerns for their high greenhouse effects, new obligations for reducing HFCs was stated by the Kigali Amendment of Montreal Protocol, for A5 countries including China, the utilization of HFCs would not be freeze until the year 2024. In this study, a survey was carried out on the baseline situations of the year 2014 for domestic consumptions and reclamation capabilities of ODS/HFCs in Guangxi province, China. It was found that eliminated HCFCs consumptions was likely shift to HFCs due to technical convenient and economic interests, since gaseous forms of HCFCs and HFCs are both severe Green House Gas (GHG), banks of GHG may be formed as used HCFCs abandoned and HFCs consumption increased from 2014 to 2023. The purpose of this study is to figure out the policy perspective of regional administration of ODS/alternatives consumptions to minimize potential GHG accumulations by comprehensively consider aspects of consumption, refrigerating service, technical inertia, market interest et al.