CRUCIAL VOTE LOOMS AS MEPs HAVE CHANCE TO RID EU OF MAJOR GREENHOUSE GAS

LONDON: Members of the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee have an opportunity to secure a major win for the climate when they meet on Wednesday (June 19) to vote on possible changes to the EU’s F-Gas Regulation.

 

The Regulation governs the use of climate-changing fluorinated gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – super greenhouse gases many hundreds or thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide which are used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols, foams, solvents and fire protection.

 

The powerful HFC chemical industry, comprising a handful of multinationals, is lobbying relentlessly against HFC bans in a bid to maintain their market dominance.

 

But the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and a large coalition of concerned NGOs are calling on their supporters and other EU citizens to directly contact ENVI Committee members, urging them not to falter in the face of industry self-interest and to vote to ban HFCs in new equipment and products by 2020.

 

More than 250 Europe-based companies already produce climate-friendly alternatives using natural refrigerants.

 

EIA has produced a short campaign film to highlight the issue, which you can view and embed in your coverage of this story; find it at http://www.eia-international.org/action-alert-help-us-urge-eu-to-win-one-for-the-climate.