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EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 7 November 2012
Climate
action:
Commission
proposes
significant
reduction in emissions of climate-warming fluorinated
gases
The European Commission took an important step today towards long-term climate
objectives by presenting a proposal to significantly reduce emissions of fluorinated gases
(F-gases). Emissions of F-gases, which have a warming effect up to 23,000 times more
powerful than carbon dioxide, have risen by 60% since 1990, while all other greenhouse
gases have been reduced. The proposed Regulation aims to reduce F-gas emissions by
two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. It also bans the use of F-gases in some new
equipment, such as household fridges, where viable more climate-friendly alternatives are
readily available.
F-gases are commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as in electrical
equipment, insulation foams, aerosol sprays and fire extinguishers. They leak into the
atmosphere from production plants, from appliances they are used in, and when such
appliances are thrown away.
Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, said: "I am proud to present this
new initiative just when we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol.
By limiting the amount of f-gases that can be sold in the EU, this new legislation will
benefit the climate and create great business opportunities. Our existing legislation has
successfully broken a growing trend in emissions and driven technological innovation. Now
that more climate-friendly products can be made, we go one step further in reducing
emissions from f-gases cost-effectively''
Today's proposal introduces a phase-down measure that from 2015 limits the total
amount of the most significant group of F-gases - Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – that can
be sold in the EU and reduces this in steps to one fifth of today's sales by 2030. This
measure will build on the successful phasing out of ozone-depleting substances which was
achieved in the EU 10 years ahead of the schedule agreed internationally.
The EU supports global action on HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. The proposed
measure anticipates and facilitates agreement on a global phase-down of consumption and
production of HFCs which is to be discussed at the 24th Meeting of the Parties to the
Montreal Protocol later this month. Also it reinforces the call at the climate change
conference under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha
later this month for urgent actions on HFCs from other countries to close the gap between
the necessary emission reductions by 2020 and currently envisaged mitigation actions.
IP/12/1180
With the right legal framework in place, EU consumers and commercial users of equipment
can drive the change and spur technological development in all sectors that use F-gases
today. This will lead to increased market shares for those companies seizing the
opportunity to develop climate-friendly products and equipment. Recent studies show that
a number of alternatives exist that are technically sound, safe to use, cost-efficient and
can lead to energy savings.
The proposal will replace the existing Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases which
requires companies to take a range of measures to reduce leaks from equipment
containing F-gases and to recover the gases at the end of the equipment's lifetime. The
current Regulation also established requirements on training and certification for personnel
involved in servicing equipment, labelling of F-gas equipment, reporting on production,
imports and exports of F-gases as well as some bans in a few specific areas. All of these
requirements are maintained and/or strengthened in the new proposal.
Next steps
The proposal will be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for discussion
and adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure.
Background
The European Commission's low-carbon roadmap lays out a cost-efficient way to achieve
the necessary reduction in emissions required under a global effort to limit warming to 2
degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In order to achieve this objective, all sectors
and greenhouse gases must contribute.
The roadmap envisages a reduction of emissions of over 70% by 2030 for the industrial
sector that includes F-gases. The new proposal has been designed to achieve these
savings, representing a cost-efficient contribution from the F-gas sector to the overall
economic effort needed to avoid more costly consequences of climate change in the
future.
Further information
DG Climate Action, F-gas page:
http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/index_en.htm
EEA monitoring report on F-gases:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/potent-greenhouse-gases
EEA greenhouse gas data viewer:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/pressroom/data-and-maps/data/data-viewers/greenhouse-gases-viewer
See also MEMO/12/840 (questions & answers)
Contacts :
Isaac Valero Ladron (+32 2 296 49 71)
Stephanie Rhomberg (+32 2 298 72 78)
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