Brussels, 15/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Tackling global warming through reducing CO2 emissions is fine, but it is not enough. Tougher measures against other greenhouse gases also have to be put in place the European Parliament (EP) says in a resolution on “a comprehensive approach to non-CO2 climate-relevant anthropogenic emissions”, adopted in Strasbourg on 14 September by a majority of 578 votes to 51, with 22 abstentions.
In the resolution, MEPs call on the EU to take steps to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), used in refrigeration systems, nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are indirect greenhouse gases, and black carbon, used in aerosols. In so doing, the EP backed the resolution proposed by Richard Seeber (EPP, Austria) and Theodoros Skylakakis (ALDE, Greece), who, the previous day, jointly put an oral question to the European Commission on this issue. “European policy on climate change must be complemented by reducing gases other than CO2”, said Seeber, and “this can be done effectively and relatively cheaply using existing instruments” - a not insignificant advantage in times of economic crisis, added Skylakakis. He said: “We can make an immediate impact on the climate given the warming potential of these gases which will represent some 20% of all emissions by 2050.”
The resolution calls for efforts to be speeded up to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases (F-gases), as the F-Gas regulation has fallen far short of expectations. The Commission is called on immediately to propose amendment of the existing rules to bring about a rapid reduction in hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and the phasing out of ozone-damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Parliament welcomes the commitment by the EU to support global action on HFCs (under the Montreal Protocol) at the UN climate conference in Durban (COP 17) at the end of the year.
Parliament also wants the EU to reduce emissions of black carbon (or soot) which forms after incomplete combustion of oil or coal, for example, through stricter testing of car emissions. Black carbon particles have a potent effect because, in the air, they absorb heat from the sun, and on the ground they speed up melting of snow and ice. Priority areas for action in curbing this danger are the Arctic, Greenland and the Himalaya and Tibetan glaciers. Action on HFCs and black carbon could begin within 2-3 years, MEPs say, and be substantially under way within 5-10 years. Targeting these emissions could be highly cost-effective, they add, since HFCs can be reduced at a public cost of 5-10 cents per tonne, compared to €13 per tonne for carbon, the resolution states. (AN/transl.rt)