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Keeping cool without warming the planet:Cutting HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 In EuropeJason AndersonFor full paper click here ...HTML Prepared with the financial assistance of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM). Executive SummaryAs the European Union and its member states finally start to develop strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the importance of addressing new industrial gases is becoming obvious. These “F-gases,” or “FCs” (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) have extremely high global warming potentials and are being emitted at a quickly increasing rate--projections indicate emissions could rise 150% between 1995 and 2010. Fortunately they are largely replaceable by commercially available natural compounds like hydrocarbons, ammonia and CO2, or by alternative technologies and practices. Reducing F-gas emissions could make a major contribution to the greenhouse gas reduction goals Europe accepted under the Kyoto Protocol, at reasonable cost.The Kyoto protocol’s first commitment period is, however, just an important first step. Analyses indicate that we must reduce total greenhouse gas emissions levels by at least 50% below 1990 rates within 50 years if we are to avoid dangerous anthropogenic global warming. F-gas emissions are projected to continue growing rapidly beyond 2010, not least because many applications like foams or refrigerants experience most of their emissions upon decommissioning after a long life of use. Left unchecked, HFCs, the most significant of the F-gases, could potentially represent 15% of all CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, and 40% by 2100. It is therefore imperative that policy be immediate in action, and long-term in scope. Further, given that F-gases are synthetic chemicals with inadequately understood human health and local ecosystem impacts, we should invoke the precautionary principle in preventing large concentrations from entering the environment. As the EU just begins to develop a policy plan, member states are already active. Denmark has a plan to phase out F-gases, the Netherlands will count on 25% of their domestic Kyoto protocol reductions from F-gases, France intends an ecotax on refrigerants, and the United Kingdom has targeted HFCs for strict limitation in its draft climate plan. Several other countries are developing national climate plans with an aggressive approach and the majority of EU countries have restrictions on some of the F-gases. In addition, eight Austrian regions and numerous municipalities, and the city of Berlin are among those committed to phasing out HFCs partially or in full. Industry proponents of F-gases try to paint alternatives as niche market applications that are too inefficient, unsafe and expensive to use more widely. Each of these arguments has been adequately addressed in broad experience worldwide for most applications. Alternatives are proving often more efficient, safety can be ensured through responsible measures, and costs are rarely significantly higher, and continue to fall with wider market acceptance. Often they are superior products in every respect, not just in terms of climate change concerns. The future belongs to these alternatives, and we should act assertively to ensure they are allowed to fulfil their promise. Climate Network Europe proposes that the EU reinforce and compliment national measures through several policies, of which the most significant are: Use “avoidance of dangerous anthropogenic
warming” as the guiding principle in policy formation, not just what’s
easiest for the first commitment period. For full paper click here ...HTML
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