Commission tackles fluorinated gases

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a regulation to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The proposal represents a further step towards fulfilling the EU's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of all gases contributing to global warming. The Commission's proposal is expected to reduce by almost a quarter the projected emissions of these gases by 2010.

The fluorinated greenhouse gases covered are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride. They are mainly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, equipment in cars, and industry. They are also used as foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, fire-fighting agents, process gases in semiconductor manufacture and electrical insulators.

Assuming no additional measures were taken to reduce emissions, the Commission projects that emissions of such gases would increase by around 50% by 2010. Currently, fluorinated gases account for 2% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposal itself has several elements. It contains provisions to improve the containment of fluorinated gases, and includes reporting requirements to strengthen the monitoring of emissions. It also contains marketing and use restrictions where containment is not feasible or the use of fluorinated gases is inappropriate, and describes the phase-out of HFC-134a in air-conditioning systems of new vehicles.

On the containment front, all stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning, heat pump equipment and fire protection systems must be inspected for leakage at least once a year. More regular inspections are required for larger systems but these can be varied where leakage detection systems have been installed. In addition, there is a requirement to install leakage detection systems for larger equipment and to maintain records on the quantities of fluorinated gases added or recovered from equipment. Provision has also been made for the recovery of fluorinated gases for recycling or destruction during servicing and at the end of life of equipment. Member States are required to establish training and certification programmes for those involved in inspection and recovery activities.

The proposal also requires producers, importers and exporters of fluorinated gases to report annually to the Commission on the production, importation and exportation of fluorinated gases. This information will be used to check the accuracy of the level of emissions reported by Member States to the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Where improving the containment of fluorinated gases is not feasible, or the use of fluorinated gases is considered inappropriate, the proposal includes a number of marketing and use restrictions for several different fluorinated gases across a number of industries. These include sulphur hexafluoride in magnesium die-casting, perfluorocarbons in new fire protection systems and fire extinguishers, and hydrofluorocarbons in one component foams.

The phase-out of the use of the gas HFC-134a in air-conditioning systems in new vehicles is a key element of the proposal. Emissions from this sector are forecast to grow from 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 1995 to 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2010 if action is not taken. The proposal introduces a system based on transferable quotas to gradually phase-out the use of HFC-134a in new vehicle air-conditioning systems from 2009 to 2013. Companies have the possibility to transfer quotas between companies, if they wish to do so, enabling the overall goal to be reached in an economically efficient way.

There is an incentive for reductions to be made even earlier. Quotas can be increased for companies that take early action by placing vehicles on the market either without HFC-134a air-conditioning systems or with less emissive HFC-134a air-conditioning systems (so-called enhanced systems) before the phase-out period begins on 1 January 2009.

At the end of the phase-out period, it will be possible to carry over any quotas remaining up to 2018.

The provisions are accompanied by a system of sanctions that will ensure compliance with the phase-out.