The head of the EC's climate policy, Wopke Hoekstra, earlier this year rejected a request from Italian MP Isabella Tovaglieri to review the F-gas requirements ahead of the planned 2030 deadline. A similar response was given to a written request from Romanian MP Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, who noted that the regulatory uncertainty surrounding the current rules could have a negative impact on the uptake and positive impact of heat pumps, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This move can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, the decision leaves the current rules in place until 2030, possibly allowing businesses and industry to better plan long-term investments and research.
On the other hand, critics fear that delaying the review could create an uncertain legal environment for fast-growing technologies such as heat pumps, which play an important role in combating climate change. More broadly, the effectiveness of emission reduction measures depends not only on the stability of legislation, but also on its timely adaptation to new challenges. In the current context, where technologies and climate safety requirements are changing rapidly, the question of how quickly updated regulations can help accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy remains open. One can also speculate on how such EU decisions will affect the investment climate in the renewable energy sector and the development of climate-friendly technologies. It is possible that stricter measures will be added to the 2030 review of the regulations if market dynamics and emission reduction requirements require a more rapid response.
Note:
F-gases (fluorinated gases) are man-made greenhouse gases that contain fluorine. They are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, as well as in electronics and fire suppression. The main types of F-gases include:
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — used in refrigeration and air conditioning units.
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) — used in electronics and cosmetics.
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) — used in the power industry for insulating high-voltage equipment.
- Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) — used in the production of microelectronics.
Despite their beneficial properties, F-gases have a high global warming potential (GWP), which makes them important in the context of climate policy. They can remain in the atmosphere for decades, contributing to the greenhouse effect. This is why their use is regulated by international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, which aim to gradually reduce emissions of these gases.