Green groups fear losing F-gas bans

UK: As European states met today to decide their position on the F-gas regulation revisions, green groups have called on governments to support ambitious measures to reduce the emission of HFCs.

In a letter to EU Ministers, a group of 11 organisations, including the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Greenpeace and WWF, called for Ministers to back a faster reduction in the amount of chemicals placed on the market and bans on their use in areas where alternatives are available.

Representatives of European member states meet with the European Parliament and Commission next week on revisions to the EU F-Gas Regulation.

While details of discussions between member states have been shrouded in secrecy, the EIA is aware that some European countries are trying to water down the environment committee proposals, published in July, which voted to ban HFCs in new equipment from 2020.

“There is a real danger that the cap-and-phase-down will be too lacking in ambition,” said Clare Perry, head of the EIA’s Global Environment Campaign. “In that case, there is no pressure for change and it will be business-as-usual for the polluters. We need a tighter cap, supported by bans in areas where we no longer need these chemicals.”