Measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motor air conditioning in China

Motor vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China contain large amounts of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases from mobile air conditioning (MAC) and refrigeration equipment. Emissions of the MAC refrigerant HFC-134a in China are estimated by Peking University to be more than 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalents annually. To keep pace with international efforts to limit GHG emissions China must urgently set policies to reduce MAC GHGs. The authors describe the types and sources of MAC GHG emissions, and possible improvements in MAC energy efficiency. Through a literature review and market research, the development of advanced MAC technologies and refrigerants in China are analyzed, while best practices in other countries are summarized, focussing on regulations and policies for reduction of MAC GHGs in the United States and Europe. The authors summarize the existing measures and policy gaps in regulating MAC GHGs in China. Accelerating the development of vehicles with low global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants would lead Chinese manufacturers to produce vehicles matching the import standards of other countries. Based on their analysis, the authors make several policy recommendations for regulation of emissions of MAC GHGs: 1) Inclusion of MAC information in the motor vehicle environmental protection information disclosure system, with collection of data on refrigerant consumption and information on air conditioning technology; 2) Development of a MAC emission standard and systematic reduction of MAC GHGs and pollutants; 3) Establishment of a regulatory system for MAC emissions, with stronger control of MAC emissions throughout vehicle life cycles; 4) Hastening of development of standards for MAC parts to reduce emissions; and 5) Introduction of economic incentives for efficient MACs and acceleration of the promotion and application of low-emission MACs.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 23p
  • Serial:
    • Working Paper
    • Issue Number: 2022-03
    • Publisher: International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01839348
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 23 2022 10:51AM