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Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are amongst the most powerful greenhouse gases, with a global warming effect up to 23 000 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) account for 85 % of present F-gases supply. They are used primarily as refrigerants in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment. Foam blowing and aerosols are other important uses of HFCs. The other F-gases are perfluorocarbons (PFCs), mainly used as a protective gas in electrical equipment and as etching agents in electronics manufacture, as well as sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF 3 ). As part of its actions to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union is phasing down the use of HFCs. The supply of F-gases to the EU, measured in CO2 equivalents, has been overall decreasing since 2010 (HFC imports were extraordinarily high in 2014, prior to the EU-wide HFC phase-down coming into effect in 2015). Since 2015, the EU has complied with its annual targets under the EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 and is approaching the HFC consumption limit, which comes into effect in 2019 under the Montreal Protocol. Emissions of F-gases mainly occur by means of leakage of gases contained in products or equipment, or at the end of the lifetime of the product/equipment, where contained F-gases are not fully recovered and destroyed or re-used. Therefore, most applications of F-gases are characterised by a significant time lag between the supply of F-gases to their industrial uses and their emissions. For the first time in 2015, a decrease in the EU emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was observed, following 13 years of increases.
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Despite a small increase in annual average CO 2 emissions from passenger cars in 2017, new cars are becoming more efficient. The average car sold in 2017 was almost 16 % more efficient than the average car sold in 2010. Average annual CO 2 emissions from new light commercial vehicles (vans) continued to decrease in 2017. The average van sold in 2017 was 13 % more efficient than one sold in 2012, when Regulation (EU) 510/2011 came in to force. The new 'Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure' (WLTP) was introduced in September 2017. It is anticipated that it will decrease the divergence between laboratory test and real world emissions.
Global average concentrations of various atmospheric greenhouse gases are continuing to increase. The annual average concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) — the most important greenhouse gas — increased to 400 and 403 parts per million (ppm) in 2015 and 2016, respectively. This represented an increase of about 45 % compared with pre-industrial levels. The total concentration of all greenhouse gases, including cooling aerosols, reached a value of 445 ppm in CO 2 equivalents in 2015 — an increase of nearly 4 ppm compared with 2014, and 35 ppm more than in 2005. The current total concentration of all greenhouse gases implies that the long-term probability of the global average temperature exceeding 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels is already about 50 %. The atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration that would be consistent with limiting global mean temperature increase to less than 2 °C could be exceeded in the coming decades. This shows the urgency of changing the emission trend and reducing greenhouse gas emissions considerably.
A significant reduction in the consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) has been achieved by the EEA-33 countries since 1986. This reduction has been largely driven by the 1987 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Montreal Protocol. Upon entry into force of the Montreal Protocol, EEA-33 consumption was approximately 420 000 ozone-depleting potential tonnes (ODP tonnes). Consumption values around zero were reached in 2002 and have remained consistently so ever since. S ince the early 1990s, th e European Union (EU) has taken additional measures, in the shape of EU law, to reduce the consumption of ODS. In many aspects, the current EU regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer (1005/2009/EC) goes further than the Montreal Protocol and it has also brought forward the phasing out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the EU.
Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-28 increased by 0.5 % in 2015 compared with 2014, but levels remain 22 % below those of 1990. According to preliminary estimates for 2016, EU emissions decreased by 0.7 %, which is 23 % below 1990 levels. GHG emissions for the EU are expected to decrease further by 2020 to 26 % below 1990 levels as projected by the EU Member States, with the current measures that are already in place. This would surpass the reduction target of 20 %. Additional measures currently planned by Member States could further reduce emissions to 27 % below 1990 levels. For 2030 a reduction of EU GHG emissions of between 30 % and 32 % could be achieved by 2030, compared with 1990 levels according to Member States’ projections reported in 2017. These projected reductions fall short of the 40 % target for 2030, in the sectors under both the EU ETS and the ESD.
In 2015, the transport sector contributed 25.8 % of total EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions. The figure decreases to 21 % if international aviation and maritime emissions are excluded. Emissions from t ransport (including aviation but excluding international shipping) in 2015 were 23 % above 1990 levels despite a decline between 2008 and 2013. Emissions increased by almost 2 % compared with 2014. International aviation experienced the largest percentage increase in greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels (+105 %), followed by international shipping (+22 %) and road transport (+19 %). Emissions need to fall by around two thirds by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, in order to meet the long-term 60 % greenhouse gas emission reduction target as set out in the 2011 Transport White Paper.
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/indicators or scan the QR code.
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