ACRIB responds to parliamentary inquiry on F Gas effectiveness

The UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee is holding an inquiry into the UK's progress on reducing fluorinated gas (F-gas) emissions and the impact leaving the EU will have on progress and reporting on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future. The scope of the inquiry covers many issues related to future UK Government policy such as how F Gas regulation requirements should be incorporated into future UK law, compliance and enforcement options, linkage to Kigali and Montreal Protocol obligations, and what measures could further improve progress on reducing emissions and their impact on UK business and consumers. ACRIB has provided a consolidated response to the questions posed which is expected to be published on the Environmental Audit Committee website in due course.  The summary of the arguments made by ACRIB is shown below:

• F-Gas Regulation phase down and use bans are challenging but have been effective in reducing UK F-Gas emissions. 
• Significant challenges for industry include availability and cost of alternative refrigerants, safety implications and skills levels of operatives.
• Going substantially further than the existing regulations could have a negative impact on safety, efficiency, reliability of installed systems, and the continued operation of applications which rely on the use of F-Gas refrigerants as well as putting UK industry at a competitive disadvantage.
• Opportunities to improve compliance levels with existing Regulatory requirements and close identified “loop-holes” would strengthen existing requirements eg  refrigerant supply chain management and registration of skills of operatives.   
• UK F-Gas emissions reduction policies should remain aligned to EU F-Gas Regulations and European Safety Standards.
• UK obligations under Kigali and Montreal protocols would also be satisfied by maintaining alignment with the existing F Gas Regulation requirements.   

ACRIB represents the consolidated views of industry associations and professional bodies in the stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) industry who supply services and equipment to businesses that rely on the use of Fluorinated Refrigerant Gases (F-Gases).  ACRIB members are  Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), Institute of Refrigeration (IOR), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF), Cambridge Refrigeration Technology (CRT), Association of Refrigeration Contractors (ARC), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA). For more about ACRIB see www.acrib.org.uk

The consultation closed on 6^th November – details of the scope of the inquiry can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/uk-progress-on-reducing-f-gas-emissions-17-19/