MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Dutch), the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the proposed regulation on fluorinated gases (F-gases), called for a faster pace of phasing out these powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs) on Tuesday 8 November when he presented his draft report.
Used in chemical processes and in many types of products and equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, asthma inhalers and fire extinguishers, F-gases are much less present in the atmosphere than CO2, but have a global warming potential (GWP) up to 25,000 times greater than CO2.
As part of the EU’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality, Mr Eickhout wants to accelerate the reduction in the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - which account for around 90% of F-gas emissions - to achieve a complete phase-out by 2050.
This is a significant change from the Commission’s proposal unveiled on 5 April (see EUROPE 12926/3). This provides for the allocation of production rights to HFC producers, through implementing acts, by progressively reducing production levels at a defined rate.
Thus, the HFC levels for each producer, expressed in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, should be 60% of its average annual production in 2011-2013 for the period between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2028, 30% for the period 2029-2033, 20% for 2034-2035 and 15% from 2036 onwards.
The rapporteur suggests reducing these percentages starting at 23.2% for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026, with a view to reaching 0% from 2050.
He also adds bans for sectors where studies have shown that it is technologically and economically feasible to switch to F-gas-free alternatives.
While the Commission’s proposal provides for differentiated timetables for reducing production and consumption of HFCs, Eickhout recommends aligning them to avoid exporting polluting products to third countries with less stringent legislation or which do not have the appropriate infrastructure to manage these end-of-life gases.
He also suggests banning the export of HFCs with a GWP above 2500.
See the draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/3yk (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)