BEIJING, April 23 -- China has unveiled a plan to comprehensively strengthen its management of ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in order to address ozone layer depletion and climate change, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced on Wednesday.

According to the national implementation plan on fulfilling the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer during the 2025-2030 period, China will regulate nine categories of substances, including HFCs. Notably, eight categories are ozone-depleting substances, while HFCs do not harm the ozone layer but are potent synthetic greenhouse gases that have the potential to contribute to global warming.

The plan puts forward 11 specific tasks in the areas of source control, process management, end-of-pipe treatment, and import and export regulation.

For example, to strengthen management of the use of controlled substances, the production of refrigerators and freezers using HFCs as refrigerants will be banned in China's home appliance sector starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Since joining the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1991, China has faithfully fulfilled its international obligations, phasing out about 628,000 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances, accounting for more than half of the total phased out by developing countries, the ministry revealed.