The Environment Committee adopts its position on draft legislation aiming to further reduce the use of fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-gas). F-gases are human-made chemicals that are very strong greenhouse gases (GHG). They are used in common appliances such as refrigerators, air-conditioning, heat pumps, fire protection, foams and aerosols. Statement by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Rapporteur and extracts from the vote

Brussels

statement

EICKHOUT, Bas (Greens/EFA, NL)

fight against climate change (T)

European Green Deal (T)

Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases): statement by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Rapporteur and extracts from the vote

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Rapporteur, So fluorinated gases. Not many people know it, but it's in quite a lot of day to day products like our fridge, refrigeration in our air conditioning. It's in heat pumps that is now being developed, of course, as an alternative to gas boilers. And it's also in switchgear. So talking about electronics, there is all these kind of elements where we have these fluorinated gases and why are we talking about them? Well, these are greenhouse gases. So they are not so many molecules of F-gases of these flavonoids as gases in the atmosphere like CO2. But some of these gases have a global warming potential, even up to 24,000. So one molecule is having a warming potential that is 24,000 more stronger than CO2. So this is exactly the reason why we want to phase it out. Also because in quite a lot of occasions, natural alternatives exist. So it's a very potent global warming gas, alternatives exist, so there's really a good reason why we want to make sure that the emissions of these gases go to zero.   <p></p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Rapporteur, Well, what we see now in the parliamentary report is that we are, of course, also making the prospects of phasing out f-gases more ambitious. One very clear aim is Europe has indicated we want to be climate neutral by 2050. Well, that means that f-gases should be eradicated. There should not be any Afghan's emissions any more by 2050. So the end game is very clear to all the markets and we are providing that clarity. The end point is zero emissions, so innovation can be very clear. They need to go for the alternative so that there are no f-gases anymore. However, in order to speed up the end of F-gases of course we are looking for very targeted sector specific bans, there where we feel it can be phased out faster. We are putting bans for specific sectors like refrigeration, like air conditioning, like heat pumps. So in order to make sure that if we are accelerating also the development of heat pumps, that they will come without F-gases or some F-gases are PFAS. So very carcinogenic chemicals that of course, we also do not want in those products. And that's all what we are putting on the table with an a more ambitious schedule than what the commission has proposed. And let's see that the Parliament is putting that ambition now also into the negotiations with the Council.  <p></p>

The Chair (and rapporteur) Bas EICKHOUT, (Greens/EFA) opening the vote on Fluorinated Greenhouse gases , 9 shots

Final vote and result: 64 in favour, 8 against, 7 abstentions (2 shots)