CFC‐12 Emissions in China Inferred From Observation and Inverse Modeling

Abstract

Dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC‐12) is an ozone‐depleting substance and potent greenhouse gas, which was required to be phased out after 2010 under the Montreal Protocol. CFC‐12 emissions need to be quantitatively traced. However, estimates of CFC‐12 emissions in China based on atmospheric inversions are unavailable after 2010. Here, using atmospheric observations at nine sites across China and inversion techniques, we quantify CFC‐12 emissions in China during 2011–2020 (on average 11.0 ± 0.6 Gg yr−1). The emissions derived from observations are 8.5 times larger than the previously reported inventories. Apart from emissions from eastern China revealed in previous studies, this study reveals that 71% of national total emissions were from other parts of China. Moreover, this study reconciled the global CFC‐12 emissions during 2011–2020: 28% were traced to China by this study, 9% of emissions were traced in previous studies, while 63% remain untraced, indicating the need for more regional emission inversion studies.