The European Parliament has overruled its environment committee in voting against measures that would have eliminated fluorinated gases, which are used in car air conditioning systems and contribute to global warming.
[mailchimp_signup][/mailchimp_signup]
Last month’s vote means fluorinated gases can be used in cars until 2017, despite the gases contributing around 40 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year. Greenpeace said MEPs conceded in the face of fierce lobbying by the chemicals industry. A spokesperson said: “Alternatives are commercially available and already on the market.“
Europe must stand firm over its future targets for carmakers as it cannot afford to fall further behind China.
The decision to create a Europe-wide carbon price was right but creates significant political risk. The good news is it can still be fixed.
It's about time the EU requires parts of key products to be made locally – and nowhere is this more urgent than in the battery sector.