The "New York Times" may have cracked the largest environmental detective case this year. Is the increase in Freon consumption really related to China?

"Global Coatings Network News"

"Global Coatings Network News"

This is the largest environmental protection unit this year.

This is the largest environmental protection unit this year.

An unexpected and mysterious surge in illegal chemical substances called "hydrochlorofluorocarbons" (CFCs) appears to come from the industrial town of Xingfu in China's Shandong Province.

Last month, scientists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noticed an alarming increase in CFC-11 in the atmosphere.

In 2013, the protocol was declared a great success, and the ozone hole formed over Antarctica in September each year gradually shrinks.

However, it now appears that despite the ban, some factories in China are still producing CFC-11, which violates the agreement and endangers the future of the earth’s ozone layer.

"New York Times" reporters and independent investigators tracked the documents and conducted a series of interviews and found that Chinese factories have been using CFC-11 as a cheap way to produce foam insulation materials for refrigerators and buildings.

At the same time, the region's government has not enforced the law effectively, and reports of illegal production of CFCs can be traced back to a few years ago.

Shandong environmental protection official Shao Changying wrote in a report published last year: "Illegal production and use are highly concealed.

"In recent years of illegal cases, only a few suspects have received due punishment.
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"In recent years of illegal cases, only a few suspects have received due punishment.
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The use of CFC-11 in Xingfu is nothing new.
Therefore, some experts suspect that the surge in CFC may only be attributed to Xingfu’s factories.

The use of CFC-11 in Xingfu is nothing new.
Therefore, some experts suspect that the surge in CFC may only be attributed to Xingfu’s factories.

Today, CFC-11 emissions are about the same as nearly 20 years ago, which shows that there are many other factories that also ignore the international ban.

Today, CFC-11 emissions are about the same as nearly 20 years ago, which shows that there are many other factories that also ignore the international ban.

The head of the United Nations Environment Programme, Erik Solheim, is responsible for the monitoring of the Montreal Protocol.
He told the New York Times that although China’s actions are tantamount to an environmental crime that requires decisive action, But we still need to dig deeper.

The head of the United Nations Environment Programme, Erik Solheim, is responsible for the monitoring of the Montreal Protocol.
He told the New York Times that although China’s actions are tantamount to an environmental crime that requires decisive action, But we still need to dig deeper.

He said: "Based on the scale of the detected emissions, we have every reason to believe that the problem has gone beyond these undiscovered cases.
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