INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SETTING FOR REFRIGERANTS AND AIR CONDITIONING AND THE GOVERNMENT'S CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME

Early day motion 1643, tabled 16 July 2002 by Jane Griffiths (Labour). Signed by 56 members.

That this House expresses concern that HFCs, the group of chemicals developed by the fluorochemical industry to replace CFCs, have on average 2,274 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, and that alternatives to HFCs which do not have a climate change impact, including hydrocarbons and ammonia, are available and in use throughout Europe; notes that the DETR's report, 'Climate Change: the UK Programme' states that 'HFCs should only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost-effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist... HFCs are not sustainable in the long term'; further notes that the EU Better Regulation Initiative launched recently in Seville, has given increased powers to the bodies responsible for setting standards for air conditioning and refrigeration, including the CEN and the BSI, which have an inbuilt majority from the HFC industry and that these bodies are proposing standards for an alternative to HFC refrigeration and air conditioning that would outlaw 80 per cent. of hydrocarbon air conditioning currently in use; and urges the Government to recognise the findings of the DTI's Swann Report on standardisation, which stated that 'it is important for Government to work against the danger of standards being used to create trade barriers' and to investigate the way in which it can ensure a balanced and appropriate representation on these standards committees.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Liberal Democrat 12, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1.