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:
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
Brainstorming Ideas for a Green Stimulus in China
Coronavirus: Impacts on wildlife and climate
Beijing's Pursuit of Clean Air - An Interview with Lauri Myllyvirta
Global Energy Interconnection: The Dawn of the Global Power Grid?
Just Act Naturally! China and Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change
EV Road Trip with Environment China!
Preview of COP 25 with Li Shuo
China Data Centers and Renewable Energy, an Interview with Ye Ruiqi
Guide to China Climate Policy with Columbia's David Sandalow
God Made the Country, and Man Made the Town
Plant-Forward and Backward in China
Will China Save the Planet?
Live from the Bookworm! The biggest environmental stories of 2018
中国环境进程的观察者——我与“中外对话”
LIVE Episode! "Podcasting in the 'Jing"
绿色电力,从国内走向海外
Can Blockchain be Green?
左手科研 右手实践——中国生态保护的草根创变者
Turning Smog into Diamonds: Environmental Art in China
环境维权英雄王灿发
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL