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Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases

Introduction

Whilst the major greenhouse gas (GHG) is carbon dioxide (CO2 ), the basket of greenhouse gases controlled by the Kyoto Protocol includes, inter alia, the so-called F-Gases:

  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • Sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6 )

These gases have high global warming potentials (GWP) and long atmospheric lifetimes. F-Gases are mainly used as refrigerants, fire extinguishing agents, dielectric media, solvents, foam blowing agents and in other applications since the 1990s, when they were utilised to replace ozone-depleting substances.

To comply with its Kyoto emission reduction target of 8% within the first commitment period the EU needed to achieve an overall GHG reduction of 336 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Through the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) launched in 2000, the European Commission identified and developed cost-effective measures to enable the European Community to meet its Kyoto Protocol target. The report of the fluorinated gases working group stated that the EU's fluorinated gas emissions in 1995 were around 65 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent or 2% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. Assuming no additional measures were taken, emissions of these gases were forecast to increase to around 98 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2010, representing 2% to 4% of total projected EU greenhouse gas emissions. The working group recommended a number of actions to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases. There was a strong consensus amongst the stakeholders to develop a legislative framework at the Community level.

On the basis of the work of the ECCP and several studies, the European Commission made a legislative proposal in 2003 aimed at reducing projected emissions of fluorinated gases by around 23 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2010. The legislation was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 17th of May 2006. The basic legislation comprises two acts: Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (the F-Gas Regulation), which covers mainly stationary applications and Directive 2006/40/EC relating to emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles,  and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC.

This website aims to inform the general public and interested stakeholders on the measures implemented to date, including legislation in force and documents needed by stakeholders to comply with the measures.