Mitigation of Fully Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China and Implications for Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

Fully fluorinated greenhouse gases (FFGHGs), including sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), nitrogen trifluoride (NF 3 ), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), have drawn attention because they have long atmospheric lifetimes (up to thousands of years) and high global warming potential. Targeting SF 6 , NF 3 , and four PFCs (CF 4 , C 2 F 6 , C 3 F 8 , and c-C 4 F 8 ), this study projects future FFGHG emission patterns in China, explores their mitigation potential, and evaluates the effects of FFGHG emission reduction on the achievement of the country's carbon neutrality goal and climate change. FFGHG emissions are expected to increase consistently, ranging from 506 to 1356 Mt CO 2 -eq yr −1 in 2060 under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. If mitigation strategies are sufficiently employed, FFGHG emissions under three mitigation scenarios: Technologically Feasible 2030, Technologically Feasible 2050, and Technologically Feasible 2060, will eventually decrease to approximately 49−78, 70−110, and 98−164 Mt CO 2 -eq yr −1 in 2060, respectively, compared to the BAU scenario. Extensive implementation of FFGHG emission mitigation technologies will curb temperature rise by 0.008−0.013 °C under the slowest mitigation scenario, compared to 0.013−0.026 °C under the BAU scenario. Well-coordinated policies and reforms on FFGHG emission mitigation are recommended to prevent potential adverse effects on the climate to a certain extent.

Increases in Global and East Asian Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) Emissions Inferred from Atmospheric Observations

“…Comparisons of top-down from this study to bottom-up estimates and previous studies: (a) Global compared to EDGAR v7.0 and Laube & Tegtmeier; (b) China (with Taiwan included) compared to EDGAR v7.0, Guo et al and Arnold et al; (c) South Korea compared to Arnold et al; (d) Japan compared to data from EDGAR v7.0, Japan’s 2023 National Inventory Report to the UNFCCC (NIR, Japan), Arnold et al For (a) Global and (d) Japan, we also show bottom-up (in situ) (in situ meaning low NF 3 conversion rate) and bottom-up (remote) (remote meaning high NF 3 conversion rate) emissions estimated in this study with no abatement (destruction of NF 3 in exhaust gas) considered, while NIR (Japan, 2023) data state that abatement was considered. Top-down results and bottom-up (in situ) are sharing the left y -axis, while EDGAR v7.0, NIR, bottom-up (remote) are using the right y -axis.…”

Substantial increase in perfluorocarbons CF 4 (PFC-14) and C 2 F 6 (PFC-116) emissions in China

“…The ongoing CF 4 and C 2 F 6 emissions in China, especially under the rapid expansion of China’s aluminum and semiconductor industries, could offset progress toward China’s carbon neutrality goal and global climate mitigation. There is a significant potential for reductions of CF 4 and C 2 F 6 emissions in China through technological innovation in the aluminum industry under different scenarios ( 34 ). The possibility of incorporating the aluminum industry into the carbon market in China (e.g., ref.…”

Destructive Adsorption of Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) Using M-MOF-74 with Open Metal Sites

“…1 It is noteworthy that NF 3 is a significant greenhouse gas. Although more environmentally friendly than SF 6 , the global warming potential (GWP) of NF 3 is 17,200 times greater than carbon dioxide, with a lifetime in the atmosphere of up to 740 years. 2 Although NF 3 has not been included in the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has sensibly decided to include NF 3 in the second commitment period.…”

“…The existing methods for treating NF 3 waste gases primarily involve high-temperature thermal decomposition or catalytic hydrolysis. However, these methods result in the emission of highly toxic and corrosive gases, which are highly detrimental to the environment and lack environmental friendliness. − In contrast, destructive sorption of NF 3 by using solid adsorbents that could react with NF 3 without harmful gas production is a more environmentally friendly approach. The key lies in the development of highly efficient adsorbents. − Some researchers have employed metal oxides for the destructive adsorption of NF 3 , , but the specific surface area of metal oxides is typically not high.…”