Climate-friendly refrigerants
The EEB is working with the Environmental Investigation Agency and other NGOs to promote alternative solutions to ozone-depleting, climate-destroying, and polluting refrigerants, which account for 2.5% of EU climate emissions and are the main source of PFAS, the so-called persistent organic pollutants.
These gases are mainly used in foams, heat pumps, refrigerators, and freezers and are potent climate killers: some have a global warming potential up to 14,000 times higher than CO2.
The F-gas Regulation 517/2014 was the basis for a global agreement that is now reducing the use of these chemicals around the world, but more ambition was needed to align this legislation with the EU’s 2030 climate goals and 2050 climate neutrality target.
On a global scale, this issue is not only about avoiding the 1.5 degrees temperature increase, but also about climate justice. Demand for refrigerants is growing, particularly in developing countries, which rely on a handful of transnational corporations to supply these expensive chemicals.
Thanks also to our advocacy, the EU adopted the new F-Gas Regulation 576/2024, a landmark piece of EU climate legislation to move away from super-greenhouse gases and harmful chemicals in many sectors. The regulation promotes patent-free, climate and nature-friendly solutions, and introduces a phase-out of fluorinated gases by 2050.
The EEB is working through its members to ensure that national governments implement the new regulation swiftly and thoroughly and is supporting international efforts to take the ambitious provisions of the European legislation to a global level, notably through the Montreal Protocol.
EYA – European Youth in Action Policymakers for Climate Justice
The EYA project, co-funded by the European Union, aims to amplify the voices of European youth on climate justice issues. EYA empowers young people to engage with decision-makers and contribute to shape a sustainable future.
Key Objectives:
- Youth Empowerment: Enhance young people’s skills and knowledge to actively engage in climate action, and to express their vision on the Europe they want
- Policy Influence: Facilitate the exchange of youth perspectives with EU policymakers on climate justice.
- Awareness Raising: Increase public awareness of EU values and climate justice issues, and increase the awareness of civil society organisations and European institutions of the vision of youth on climate justice.
Focus Areas:
- Energy Transition: Promote sustainable energy solutions and just energy policies.
- Greenwashing: Combat misleading environmental claims and promote transparency.
- Biodiversity: Protect biodiversity and ecosystem services for a sustainable planet.
Project Activities:
- Workshops: Equip young people with the tools and knowledge to become climate activists.
- Workcamps: Engage youth in hands-on environmental projects and community initiatives.
- Campaigns: Mobilize young people to advocate for climate justice through various campaigns.
- Youth Climate Meetings: Provide a platform for young people to discuss their ideas and develop policy recommendations.
By involving thousands of young people across Europe, EYA is making a significant contribution to the global climate justice movement and the dissemination of EU values.
Partners:
Legambiente
De Amicitia
Young Researchers of Serbia
Youth Environment Europe
European Environmental Bureau
Allianssi Youth Exchanges
