Protecting Ozone On Meps' Agenda

摘要

The proposed EU regulation on ozone depleting substances (ODS) will be put to the Euroepan Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee on 21 January. Dutch independence and democracy MEP Johannes Blokland, draftsman on the proposal, would like the EU to be more ambitious on reducing the production of hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the EU by 2015. The substances, which Blokland wants to be removed from production entirely, are believed to be contributing to a rapidly depleting ozone layer. Although the Commission proposes a legal framework to destroy the controlled substances, Blokland is concerned that there are too great amounts of HCFCs stored or 'banked' in products or equipment, which later can damage the ozone layer. The report also aims to stop the production of other substances which lead to any deterioration of ozone, essential for ensuring that harmful UV rays are filtered from entering the atmosphere. In his report, Blokland says he would like to restrict the use in the EU of very short-lived halogenated substances such as normal-propyl bromide (n-PB), instead of merely reporting the quantities used as suggested by the Commission.