EU Drive to Fight Global Warming

The European commission yesterday unveiled tough proposals to cut emissions of particularly potent greenhouse gases by a quarter before 2010, in the fight against global warming.

To meet commitments under the Kyoto protocol, the commission proposed phasing out fluorinated greenhouse gases found in everyday objects, including fridges, fire extinguishers, air conditioning units, double glazed windows, running shoes, aerosols and car tyres.

Although not as dangerous to the ozone layer as chlorofluorocarbons, the three gases targeted - hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), perfluorocarbon and sulphur hexafluoride - have a "high global warming potential" because they trap more heat and last longer in the atmosphere.

If nothing is done their use is set to rocket, the commission said. "One gas used in making car tyres, sulphur hexafluoride, is nearly 24,000 times as bad for the climate as carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas," said Peter Horrocks, an environment expert at the commission.

Under the commission's proposals, expected to become law next year after being approved by EU governments and the European parliament, manufacturers would be obliged to phase out their use.

The proposals call for the phasing out of HFCs in air conditioning units fitted to cars between 2009 and 2013. Sanctions would be imposed on those that failed to comply.

"This new proposal demonstrates our strong commitment to implement the Kyoto protocol in the EU by putting in place cost-effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Margot Wallstrom, the EU environment commissioner. "In order to be successful we have to take action on many fronts."

Under the Kyoto agreement the EU has agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8% while Britain has promised to strive for a 12.5% reduction. But the US, the world's largest polluter, has rejected the agreement.