On Sept. 17, 2018, MEE and UNEP jointly held the annual celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in Beijing.  

An official with MEE noted that China has highly valued and earnestly implemented the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) and been dedicated to the global environmental governance for the preservation of the ozone layer by taking all sorts of measures proven useful.  

China has established the National Leading Group for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer following the accedence to the Protocol to coordinate the State departments in the implementation of the document. Also, it has set up an office to regulate the import and export of the ozone depleting substances (ODS) and promulgated the Administrative Regulations on the Ozone Depleting Substances, which specifies the management of the ODS throughout its production, use, import and export, through the total pollutant load control and the quota and licensing. Furthermore, China has either phased out the ODS or introduced alternatives in over 1,000 enterprises of 31 industries. As a result, about 280,000 t ODS, which is half of the amount phased out in developing countries, has been eliminated across the country.  

The Chinese Government has always given “zero tolerance” to the illegal production and use of the ODS. The MEE started in July a nation-wide inspection on ODS compliance, which is still under way, to check the major industries. China will resolutely crack down on all sorts of incompliances and work with other members to the Protocol to ensure the timely delivery of the goals set out in the document.  

The implementation still faces multiple challenges, according to the official. China will continue to strengthen the capacity building, escalate the monitoring and evaluation, and step up the oversight and management of the ODS that have already been phased out.  

Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat Madame Tina Birmpili and Chief Officer of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol Mr. Eduardo Ganem presented at the celebration. Over 120 delegates from the UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank, GiZ, member organizations of the National Leading Group for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the environmental protection departments (bureaus) of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, as well as cities separately listed in State plans, research institutions, industrial associations, and industries participated.