Carmakers will not be able to delay the introduction of a ban on greenhouse gases used in air-conditioning units, European politicians have warned.
The automotive sector has campaigned against a 2011 ban on fluorinated chemicals used in car air-conditioning. The ban, decided on by the European Parliament in 2006, will increase costs.
Air-conditioning in almost all cars on European roads used a hydrocarbon refrigerant, HFC134a, which has a global warming potential hundreds of times greater than carbon dioxide.
A legal loophole that would have allowed carmakers to avoid the ban until 2017 was closed by the EU in April.
Replying to a question from Liberal MEP Chris Davies, enterprise commissioner Gunther Verheugen told the European Parliament’s environment committee: “The rule is in force. It has to be applied. New cars must meet the new requirements or the vehicles will not receive type approval and cannot be placed on the market.”
Davies said: “The selfish behaviour of the car manufacturers has shown complete disregard for wider interests. They have had billions of euros in support from governments and it is time they took a lead in helping reach Europe’s ambitions of reducing the release of global warming gases.
“Now the European Commission has raised the stakes. The message could not be more clear.”
© PE Publishing, 9 September 2009
