EU Approves Noteworthy GHG Legislation
Overview:
The European Council approved legislation to slash greenhouse gases, aiming for a 500 million-tonne CO2-equivalent emissions reduction by 2050. This is similar to France’s and Belgium's yearly emissions combined. Heralded as the world's most ambitious, the rules target a complete phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2050 and a 95% reduction by 2030, restricting the use of F-gases in favor of climate-friendly alternatives. The legislation, featuring an export ban and extended recovery requirements for ozone-depleting substances, becomes effective 20 days after publication in the EU's Official Journal, post-approval by the Council and the EU Parliament.
Summary:
The European Council has officially approved new legislation targeting the reduction of highly potent greenhouse gases, specifically fluorinated gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). This move marks the final major step toward implementing the comprehensive regulation. The European Commission states that these rules are the most ambitious globally and are expected to eliminate 500 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, an amount roughly equivalent to the combined annual emissions of France and Belgium.
Wopke Hoekstra, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, expressed enthusiasm for the new regulations, emphasizing their impact on reducing planet-warming gases in various products like refrigeration, air conditioning equipment, and aerosol sprays. He highlighted the rules' potential to stimulate innovation, create opportunities for EU industries, and promote the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies. Fluorinated gases and ODSs, commonly used in industrial applications and appliances, possess a significantly higher global warming potential than CO2, making their phasedown crucial for climate goals.
The adopted legislation targets the complete phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), responsible for about 90% of F-gas emissions, by 2050. It also aims to reduce HFC consumption by 95% by 2030, based on 2015 levels. The regulations restrict the use of all F-gases in equipment where climate-friendly alternatives are available, and an export ban is included to prevent the sale of outdated equipment containing high global warming potential gases to non-EU countries. Additionally, the rules extend requirements for the recovery of ODSs, covering sectors such as building materials, refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment. The new legislation will come into force 20 days after being published in the EU's Official Journal, following the signing of the regulations by the Council and the EU Parliament.
Source: https://www.esgtoday.com/eu-adopts-new-regulation-eliminating-500-million-tonnes-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions/
