Today the European Commission endorsed regulations that will eliminate an additional 500 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050, which is comparable to the combined annual emissions of France and Belgium.
The new rules will eliminate the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the most common F-gases, by 2050.
The rules will also restrict the use of all F-gases in equipment where climate-friendly alternatives are available, such as heat pumps, switchgear for energy transmission or products used in the health sector. New obligations will also reduce F-gas and ODS emissions from insulation foams in old buildings and those under renovation
BACKGROUND
The Commission proposed two draft Regulations in April 2022 revising the rules on F-gases and ODSs to align these policies with the EU's climate objectives and with international rules under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Regulations were also adapted to improve implementation and enforcement of the rules.
The EU co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on 5 October 2023.
The European Parliament approved both Regulations on 16 January 2024, and today's Council vote completes the legislative process.
The Regulations will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the Union.
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