Brussels, 11/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - With his draft report on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gas), the MEP (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) has proposed a global framework effectively to fight these gases, which have a much higher global warming potential than CO2. He therefore recommends a ban on any new equipment containing HFCs across all industrial sectors, a gradual reduction of HFCs under a tighter timetable than the one proposed by the European Commission and the application of the polluter pays principle through a charge for F gas quotas to be paid by both producers and importers. The environmental NGOs have welcomed this.
"HFC quotas should not be allocated free of charge. The revenue can be used to help the governments to implement the legislation and to support small businesses in their efforts to comply", said Ala Kurikka of the European Environment Bureau (EEB).
In the view of the EEB, Bas Eickhout's recommendations have the merit of remedying the weaknesses in the Commission's proposal aiming to tighten up the rules in force, without imposing the same solution on all applications, by phasing out sales of HFCs between now and 2030, together with including the transport air conditioning sector in the current regulation on F gases (regulation 842/2006). (EUROPE 10726 and 10725). (AN/transl.fl)