Brussels, 26/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - There is still extensive room for manoeuvre for further reducing, at little cost, emissions of fluorinated gases (F-gases), a group of industrial gases which are extremely powerful contributors to global warming. These gases are already regulated in the EU, but, without further measures, they are expected to remain at today's levels in the long term, according to a review published by the European Commission on 26 September of the application, effects and adequacy of the regulation (CE No 842/2006) on certain fluorinated gases. The reason for this is that F-gases are being used in a growing number of appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigeration equipment. This has been sufficient to convince the Commission to get things back on an even keel. Witness to this desire is the public consultation exercise it launched on the same day to identify ways to enhance EU measures to reduce emissions of these gases.
“The EU Regulation on fluorinated gases has successfully broken a growing trend in emissions and driven technological innovation. However, making the transition to a competitive low-carbon EU economy by 2050 requires ambitious action to cut emissions from all sectors. It is clear there is considerable scope for cost-effective reductions in F-gas emissions and following the public consultation I intend to propose new legislative measures next year”, said European Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. It was for that reason that she intends to use the findings of the consultation to “propose new legislative measures next year”.
The European Parliament, in a resolution on a comprehensive approach to anthropogenic emissions other than CO2, adopted very recently in Strasbourg, called on the EU to take steps to reduce HFCs (see EUROPE 10453).
Every tonne of F-gas (HFCs, PFCs and SF6s) has a global warming potential 140 to 23,900 times greater (when measured over 100 years) than CO2. According to the review, the EU could eliminate up to two thirds of current F-gases by 2030. Further and economically viable reductions would depend largely on the growing possibilities in various sectors for the use of alternatives which do not contribute to global warming or contribute to a much lesser extent. The public consultation looks at the options that might be considered, such as new voluntary agreements, bans for new products and equipment and the introduction of a scheme for phasing-down the placing of HFCs on the EU market. All interested parties are invited to make their submissions before 19 December 2011. http://www.ec.europa./eu/clima/policies/f-gas/index_en.htm (AN/transl.rt)