EUROPE: EPEE, the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment has given an initial thumbs up to the European Commission's F-gas review proposals.
In a statement following publication of the document today, EPEE said it supports the Commission's proposal for a gradual phase-down of HFCs, which recognises that no perfect refrigerant exists for all applications.

EPEE has repeated its support for the introduction of a phase-down mechanism. Andrea Voigt, EPEE's director general said: 'If we are serious about reducing emissions, then we need a measure that leaves the choice open for selecting the best solutions for each and every application, everywhere in Europe. There is no perfect refrigerant! With this in mind, we fully support the Commission's intention to gradually phase-down HFCs.'

The statement, however, does not tell the whole story. EPEE is known to back a less drastic cap and phase-down mechanism of 30% in 2020 and up to 65% in 2030 to achieve the EU's climate objective. This is at odds with the Commission's proposal for a 63% reduction by 2020 and a 79% reduction by 2030.

EPEE does say that the forthcoming European parliamentary discussions 'are expected to be lively considering that the cap and phase-down mechanism is extremely ambitious and that the proposal also contains some HFC bans.'