Climate change policy

The European Parliament and Council yesterday evening reached agreement on new EU legislation aimed at curbing climate damaging F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases) (1). The Greens welcomed the outcome, European Parliament draftsman/rapporteur and Green climate change spokesperson Bas Eickhout stating:

"These new rules to curb climate-damaging F-gases are a vital addition to the EU's arsenal of measures to tackle climate change. After falling back in other areas of climate policy, this new legislation will enable the EU to justifiably claim to be leading on this crucial issue for credible climate change action.

"Addressing the enormous damage of F-gases is crucial to the overall coherence of climate change policies. These super greenhouse gases have a potent warming effect (up to 23,000 times that of CO2), many of which remain in the atmosphere for up to thousands of years. The failure to tackle them until now has undercut progress in other areas, with F-gas emissions having risen 60% since 1990, in stark contrast to other areas.

"The EU phase-down of these gases, agreed yesterday, will ensure a reduction of almost 80% from the sector by 2030. It includes a ban on the use of F-gases in new commercial refrigeration from 2022, as well as other bans. These rules will stimulate innovation in the sector and be of immediate benefit to the numerous innovative European companies already leading in the cooling sector by stimulating demand for natural refrigerants."

(1) The legislation will now be formally confirmed by a vote in the European Parliament, as well as by EU governments in Council.