CHINA: The Chinese president Xi Jinping has indicated that China, the world’s largest producer of refrigerants, will accept the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal to phase down HFCs.

In a video summit with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel, yesterday, on a range of topics, the Chinese president said that China had decided to accept the Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment to strengthen the control of non-CO2 greenhouse gases such as HFCs.

According to reports by the Xinhua News Agency, the official Chinese state-run press agency, Xi Jinping said: “Responding to climate change is the common cause of all mankind and should not be a bargaining chip for geopolitics, a target for attacking other countries, or an excuse for trade barriers.”

He stated that China would adhere to the principles of fairness, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities, promote the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, and actively carry out South-South cooperation on climate change.

He went on to say: “It is hoped that developed economies will set an example in reducing emissions and take the lead in fulfilling their climate funding commitments, so as to provide adequate technical and capacity building support for developing countries to address climate change.”

Under the Kigali Amendment, countries agree to cut the production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80% over the next 30 years. So far, 118 countries as well as the EU have ratified the document but, amongst the major producers and users, China, the USA and India are notable exceptions.