Negotiations on a law to slash the use of super-potent greenhouse gases in fridges and air conditioners will begin in the European Union, amidst split between countries and lawmakers over how fast the phasing out should be.
EU countries on Wednesday agreed to negotiate on the legislation to cut Europe’s use of fluorinated gases (f gases), man-made gases used as refrigerants in heat pumps and fridges, and in aerosols and foams which when released, heat up the atmosphere far faster than carbon dioxide and in some cases with thousand of times the planet-warming potency of CO2.
Countries within the bloc said that over 2024-2028, sales of such gases should fall to 60% of what they were between 2011 and 2013. From 2036, f gas sales must be down to 15% of 2011-2013 levels.
EU lawmakers which will negotiate the final law with EU countries decided last week to also push in the negotiations for a full phase out of f-gas sales by 2050 as they bid to move faster.
“We are sending a clear signal to the market: switch to clean alternatives,” said Bas Eickhout, Parliament’s lead negotiator on the law.
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Under the Parliament’s proposal, sectors would face tailored targets, and most of them would be required to phase out f gases this decade – for example, 2025 for sales of new domestic fridges and freezers.
EU countries want a later phaseout for f gases in some heat pumps – with deadlines out to 2033, depending on their size and type. Parliament backed deadlines for heat pumps out to 2028.
Germany and France had requested later deadlines for certain heat pumps, which they said was needed to ensure manufacturers can produce enough to meet demand.
“Understanding the challenges of the sector, the European manufacturers need a little more time to switch to climate- and environment-friendly alternatives,” said a document by the two countries, seen by reporters.
To help wean itself off fossil fuels, the EU plans to install millions of heat pumps this decade.
Heat pumps and the “switchgear” components in power grids both use f gases, but can switch to less potent alternatives like CO2 or compressed air.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
