Tag: fluorinated gases

Companies are competing to win automakers' support for rival air-conditioning technology as the European car industry prepares to take a key decision on what refrigerant to choose to replace climate-wrecking F-gases.

A compromise agreement on the F-gas bill leaves Austria and Denmark free to maintain stricter controls on the fluorinated gases that exacerbate global warming. F-gases are used mainly in refrigeration and air conditioning.

The Commission has asked Denmark and Austria to justify the bans imposed on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) on the basis that they could disrupt the free movement of goods in the internal market.

Dutch State Secretary Pieter van Geel has spelled out his environment programme before Parliament, focusing on eco-efficient, innovative solutions to issues such as sustainable transport and chemicals (REACH).

F-gases in cars' air conditioning systems are to be banned from 2014, but will be maintained in refrigerators and other home equipment. Environmentalists say Parliament bowed to industry pressures.

The Parliament's Environment Committee will be examining a draft regulation on fluorinated gases with global warming effects on 17 February. The draft has been tightened to include a ban on their use in cars by 2011.

In a special stakeholder Conference on 10-11 February 2003, the Commission is discussing options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from mobile air conditioners.