Says banning them is an easy win for the climate

Speaking at the shecco ATMOsphere conference in Brussels, the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) called on European Union member states to push for strong and ambitious measures in the current review of its F-Gas Regulation governing HFCs. Revealing this in a news release, EIA contended that banning the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – super greenhouse gases used in refrigeration – in supermarkets would be one of the cheapest and most effective ways of reducing greenhouse gases in Europe.

Replacement technologies primarily relying on carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons are increasingly cost-effective, and upfront costs are expected to fall further as production volumes are increased, the agency added.

Emphasising this, EIA Senior Campaigner Clare Perry said: “It’s time to act. We know that banning HFCs from new commercial refrigeration equipment is not only possible, but could be a boost for European industry. At the same time, the alternative technologies are demonstrating energy efficiency gains too, providing a double win for the climate.”

On an optimistic note, EIA said that its latest survey of the supermarket sector – Chilling Facts V – revealed that supermarket chains across the EU, and particularly in the UK, were moving away from HFCs towards natural refrigerants, and reaping benefits in the process.

According to EIA, it is calling on the European Member states to support measures to introduce a tight cap on the amount of HFCs which can be put on the market, and to ban their use in all areas where safe, energy-efficient alternatives are available, like commercial refrigeration.