Yesterday saw the launch of the long-awaited proposal to strengthen the existing EU F-Gas Regulation. The launch coincided with the ATMOsphere Europe conference, where Bente Tranholm-Schwarz from the European Commission (EC) presented the proposal to about 200 participants, rounding off statements at the event by the European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, who noted that action on f-gases is needed now to put EU industry in a “first-mover” position.
EU Climate Commissioner: “Acting now will put EU industry in a first-mover position”
In a keynote speech during the 1st day of the conference, EU Climate Commissioner Ms Hedegaard had noted that “acting now will put EU industry in a first-mover position and many of you are living proof of this. […] Innovation is key to addressing the challenge of climate change while at the same time preserving our competitiveness. Some Member States, I know, have already demonstrated that pioneering legislation in this field not only benefits the climate, but clearly also the first movers”.
“In many if not most sectors there are several suitable low-global warming potential alternatives already available today. Alternatives that are technically feasible, alternatives that are safe, alternatives that are equally or more energy-efficient, and alternatives that are affordable.”
“When people sometimes say that it is tricky, it is difficult, it is expensive to invest in innovation we need in different areas - including what we are talking about here today - I think it is very important to realise that the costs of continuing business as usual are even higher”, she underlined.
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