EU climate change strategy gutted by MEPs' vote
25 October 2005
Greens have reacted with fury after the European Parliament rejected callsto ban some of the most potent greenhouse gases from fridges andair-conditioning units.
Euro-MPs were considering a package of measures to regulate the use ofso-called 'F-gases' - the fluorinated gases which were used to replace CFC'sin fridges, air conditioners, or foams after they were themselves bannedfor the damage the caused the ozone layer - in Strasbourg today.
F-gases are highly potent greenhouse gases - as much as 23,900 timesstronger than CO2 - and their use is regulated under the Kyoto Protocol.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MEP for South-East England and member of theEuropean Parliament's Environment Committee, proposed a series of amendmentsto the proposed regulations - including some ban on the placing on themarket of equipment containing F-gases.
But MEPs rejected both her Green amendments - and the package itself,meaning the chemicals industry will be allowed to continue producingF-gases, and EU members will be unlikely to meet their legal commitmentunder the Kyoto Protocol.
Dr Lucas said: "By voting against further restrictions on F-gases, MEPs haveprioritised the interest of the chemicals industry over tackling climatechange - and meeting our international legally-binding commitments to do so.
"F-gases are real climate killers. Some of them will remain in theatmosphere for thousands of years, continuing to influence the world'sclimate as they do.
"In the face of an increased incidence of devastating freak weather events -like Katrina and Wilma or the current drought in the Amazon basin - votingfor the vested interests of the chemicals industry is simply unacceptable,even in the short term."
Parliament also voted for the EU member countries to adopt harmonisedapproach to F-gases, effectively prohibiting individual members from settingambitious national legislation to ban or limit the manufacture and use ofF-gases.
"Today's decision prevents EU members from taking concrete steps to cutgreenhouse gas emissions, and therefore it is decision which will contributedirectly to climate change," added Dr Lucas.
"This is bad day for the EU, and the fight against climate change, and I amdeeply disappointed."
ENDS
For more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 orben@greenmeps.org.uk
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
