Shenzhen will initiate a citywide campaign Sept. 16 to replace the ODS (ozone depleting substance) refrigerants with nationally certified substitutes.

Production, storage and sale of refrigerators, air-conditioners, automobiles and refrigerating equipment that contain CFC, an ODS commonly used in the refrigerant industry, will be forbidden across Shenzhen. The city will start to replace CFC-containing refrigerant with environmentally friendly substitutes in the local central air-conditioners or industrial refrigerating systems that account for 10 percent of the total number. The replacement work is scheduled to be completed before July 1, 2007.

Maintenance companies that have to use CFC in repair works must be equipped with recycle facilities starting from Jan. 1, 2006 to prevent CFC leakage.

Shenzhen has almost staved off major ODS like CFC, HCFC and Halon that are usually used in LCD cleaners, hair spray, pest spray and fire extinguishers since 1998. But the CFC refrigerant is still used in some brands of air-conditioners and electric home appliances.

Developed countries have basically phased out ODS and banned trading of products containing ODS. China now accounts for 50 percent of the global ODS consumption. Since China became a member nation of Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer in 1989, it has received US$790 million, or 40 percent of the Multilateral Fund that is used to aid developing nations' ozone protection efforts.

There are 14 Shenzhen-based electronic display enterprises that received over 20 million yuan (US$2.43 million) from the fund to end the use of ODS-containing rinse.

Shenzhen will host a conference to mark the 10th anniversary of International Ozone Layer Protection Day from Sept. 16-17, which will be sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program, State Administration of Environmental Protection and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.

(Shenzhen Daily September 6, 2005)