Air conditioning – Photo by Sergei A on Pexels
(STRASBOURG) – The European Parliament in plenary session Tuesday approved new rules to minimise emissions from powerful greenhouse gases, in line with EU and global climate goals.
“Putting an end to F-gases is crucial, not only because these gases are extremely harmful for the climate, but we are also providing clarity and investment certainty for industry,” said the Parliament’s rapporteur Bas Eickhoutf MEP.
The text of the deal reached with the Council to further cut emissions from fluorinated gases foresees a total phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2050, including a trajectory to reduce the EU consumption quota between 2024-2049.
Fluorinated greenhouse gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride (used in refrigerators, air-conditioning, heat pumps, fire protection, foams or electrical switchgear equipment) and ozone-depleting substances, such as halons (used in fire extinguishers), methyl bromide (to control pests) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (used in fridges and air-conditioning systems) are man-made greenhouse gases (GHG) with high global warming potential.
The deal introduces strict requirements that prohibit placing on the EU market products containing F-gases and specific phase-out dates for the use of F-gases in sectors where it is technologically and economically feasible to switch to alternatives that do not use F-gases, such as domestic refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.
The deal on reducing emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) introduces requirements to recover and recycle such substances in building materials during renovations (found in particular in insulation foams), which is the main source of remaining ODS emissions in the EU. It also introduces strict exemptions for their use as feedstock (to produce other substances, for example in the pharmaceutical or chemical industry), as process agents, in laboratories and for fire protection.
Following the final votes in plenary, the Council now has to formally endorse the texts before their publication in the EU’s Official Journal.
Further information, European Parliament
Adopted texts will be available here (16.01.2024)
