The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published new aggregated information on the production and trade of fluorinated gases – or F-gases – in the EU. In 2011, F-gases were used mostly for refrigeration and air-conditioning purposes, as well as in electrical equipment and in the production of foams and aerosols. F-gases are important because they contributed 2% of total EU greenhouse gases emissions in 2010, measured in terms of CO2-equivalent.

The new report compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) with regard to the fluorinated gases – or F-gases – in the EU shows that although emitted in relatively small quantities, the emissions of these gases are increasing, and many are several thousand times more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide (CO2). The report also shows that in 2011, F-gases were used mostly for refrigeration and air-conditioning purposes, as well as in electrical equipment and in the production of foams and aerosols. Also in 2011, MEPs approved a resolution that demanded stricter rules to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases.

The report compiled latest data reported under the 'F-Gas Regulation' (No 842/2006) by 120 individual companies that have produced, sold, imported or exported F-gases in the European Union (EU). The F-Gas Regulation is one of the main legal instruments with which the EU aims to reduce F-gas emissions by requiring companies to take a range of measures to reduce leaks from equipment containing F-gases and to recover the gases at the end of the equipment's lifetime. Companies are also required to avoid using F-gases for some applications where environmentally superior alternatives are cost-effective.

The European Commission is presently investigating further possible options for strengthening EU measures to reduce emissions of fluorinated gases and intends to present a new legal proposal this autumn. F-gases are important because they contributed 2% of total EU-27 GHG emissions in 2010, measured in terms of CO2-equivalent. Moreover, according to the latest official EU greenhouse gas emissions data, their contribution has been steadily growing since 1990.