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| document | COM(1982)307  |
| date | June 3, 1982 |
COLLECTION RELIEE DES DOCUMENTS 'COM'
COM (82)307
Vol. 1982/0113
Disclaimer
Conformement au reglement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du ler fevrier 1983 concernant I’ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communaute economique europeenne et de la Communaute europeenne de I’energie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, p. 1), tel que modifie par le reglement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 (JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas echeant, les documents classifies presents dans ce dossier ont ete declassifies conformement a I’article 5 dudit reglement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Obereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1. Februar 1983 uber die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europaischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europaischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983, S. 1), geandert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003 (ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Offentlichkeit zuganglich. Soweit erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Obereinstimmung mit Artikel 5 der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC82) 307' final.
Brussels/ 7 June 1982
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r.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
ChlorofLuorocarbons in the environment; Progress report of the application of Community Policy
COM(82) 307 final
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL
Chtorofluorocarbons in the environment: Progress report of the application of Community Policy
I. Introduction
II. Current scientific situation
III. Economic data
IV. The action programme in the sectors of refrigeration/ foam plastics and solvents.
The emission of ChLorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere is a potential source of disturbance to the atmosphere's equilibrium. Community policy in this area has focused on precautionary measures that seek a balance between the possible dangerous effect on man and the environment and the socioeconomic impacts of reducing the use of CFCs.
The steps of Community policy have been until now the following:
1. Council Resolution of 30 May 1978 (1);
2. Council Decision of 26 March 1980 (2)
The Commission has sent to the Council a number of Communications on this matter, the last one on 26 May 1981. That Communication (3), concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment, contained information and a basis for evaluation for the pursuit of Community policy. That Communication reviewed the available scientific and economic data and gave orientations toward further measures to be taken at Community level Following the debate of the Ministers of the Environment on 11 June 1981 the Commission submitted on 8 October 1981 a proposal for a draft decision ori the consolidation of precautionary measures concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment (4).
Finally, the Council authorized the Commission (5) to participate on behalf of the Community in the negotiations for the elaboration of a framework convention for the protection of the ozone layer in the framework of UNEP. One preparatory meeting took place in Stockholm on 20-29 January 1982.
The aim of the present Communication is to report on the progress made to date on the application of Community policy in this area. The topics treated will include the current scientific situation, the relevant economic data and the action programme in the sectors of refrigeration, foam plastics and solvents.. •
CD 0J C 133, 7.6.1973 -
(2) Decision 8Q/372/EEC - 0J L 90, 3.4.1980
(3) COM(81) 261, 26.5.1981
(4) OJ G 269, 21.10.1981
C5) Decision of the Council of 19.1.1982 (4132/82 EIIY 4)
II. CURRENT SCIENTIFIC SITUATION
Under the United Nations Env ronemiu Programme .UNEP) the Coordinating Committee on the Ozone Layer (CCOl) met in Copenhagen 12-16 October 1931 for its fifth session.
The Committee concluded that a risk of depletion of the ozone layer due to chlorofluorocarbon releases is still most likely, although natural variations and other compounds which may affect ozone, require inc eased consideration. If one considers only chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12 releases at their present rate^, current model calculations estimate an eventual ozone reduction in the range of 5 to 10 per cent, compared to about 10 per cent estimated in the 1980 CCOL report, and 15% in their 1979 report. The report (1) of the Commission workshop on the evaluation of the effects of chlorofluorocarbons on atmospheric ozone held in Brussels in January 1981 also supports these findings.
If releases of other chlorine containing trace gases are continued at present rates, then they could increase the eventual ozone depletion due to CFC 11 and 12 alone by about one third. The estimate of the present total column ozone depletion is less than one per cent, which is below the present detection limit.
In addition, multiple scenario models suggest that the distortion of the vertical ozone profile might become more important than phanges in the total amount with respect to possible climatic consequences.
In conclusion, the progress made in the photochemical theory of rtrato-spheric ozone and in observations has not changed substantially the uncertainties. In the current scientific situation a change in the policy of precautionary measures that the Community has pursued so far is not advisable. ■ i l ■
(1) Workshop Report “Evaluation of the Effects of Chlorofluorocarbons on
Atmospheric Ozone: Present Status of Research", CEC, Brussels, Nov. 1981. (Doo. XIl/CLI/9/81)
III. ECONOMIC DATA
Since 1976, the Commission has been receiving total Community annual figures of production and sales of CFC 11 and 12, which the European chloroflurocarbon producers provide using the CFC data collection mechanism described in the Communication of 26 May 1981.
The data for the five years since 1976 are presented in Annex I. The
most significant figure in this table is the sale in 1981 of 1.6,139 tonnes of
CFC 11 and 12 for aerosol use which is 34.4% less than the 1976 figure
of 176.914. Thus, the reduction of 30% sought by the Council decision
80/372/EEC to be achieved by the end of 1981 by each Member State
has been achieved and surpassed for the Community as a whole. It should
also be pointed out that this goal has been exceeded in spite of the
fact that the 1981 figure includes the contribution from Greece, while
the figures for the previous years do not. ‘
Some other figures also warrant mention. The sales of CFC 11 and 12 for refrigeration, foam plastics and solvents and other uses reached 93,626 tonnes in 1981, an increase of 40%, since 1976, and have evolved from 28% in 1976. to 45% of all sales for aerosol, and non-aerosol uses. Finally, the production of CFC 11 and 12 including imports reached 300.144 tonnes in 1981, a decrease of 8.1% since 1976/ while the total sales were 209.765 tonnes in 1981, a decrease of 14% since 1976.
These 1981 figures again include the contribution from Greece.
Using the same data collection mechanism it has been reported that the total production of CFC 113 and 114 in the EEC was less than 45,000 tonnes in 1981.
IV. THE ACTION PROGRAMME IN THE SECTORS OF REFRIGERATION, FOAM PLASTV :S
AND SOLVENTS
The Communication of 26 May 1981 outlined the action programme on the reduction of emissions of chlorofluorocarbons in the sectors of refrigeration, foam plastics and solvents. This programme was considered necessary because, as the latest statistics show, there has been a serious increase in the use of CFCs in sectors other than aerosols.
The action programme has been taking place with the help of national experts and representatives of industry. The results expected in each case are:
a) Refrigeration; A code of good practice is under preparation on the design, manufacture, use and servicing of refrigeration equipment, and the reclamation of refrigerants.
This code is intended to be applied by the relevant industries and users with the specific aim of reducing the losses of CFCs.
b) Flexible and rigid foam plastics; Research projects taking place in the Community on the recovery of CFCs from plant ventilation air by the absorption on active carbon during the manufacture of flexible foam are being coordinated. This is expected to lead eventually to the design of a pilot plant utilizing this improved cleaner technology.
The possibilities for reducing the use of CFCs in the manufacture and conversion of rigid foams and methods for proper disposal procedures of these foams are being investigated. For flexible foams the use of ''soft" polyols to reduce CFC usage as well as the use of alternative blowing agents such- as methylene chloride are being examined.
, . • ; i
c) Solvents: A code of good practice on the design, manufacture, use and servicing of equipment in which CFCs are;being used as solvents is being prepared for application by the appropriate industries.
CFC 11 S 12 PRODUCTION AND SALES BY EEC PRODUCERS : 1976 - 1981
Tonnes CFCs 11 & 12
| 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 / | |
| PRODUCTION-' (including imports) Change from 1976 - tes - % | 326 433 | 319 107 - 7 326 - 2,2 | 307 033 - 19 400 - 5,9 | 304 238 - 22 195 - 6,8 | 295 718 - 30 715 " 9,4 | 300 144 - 26 289 - 8,1 |
| . SALES IN EEC MARKETS ' ’ . (excluding sales to " co-producers) | ||||||
| AEROSOLS Change from 1976 — tes - % | 176 914 | 162 568 - 14 346 - 8,1 | 150 424 - 26 490 - 15,0 | 136 552 - 40 362 - 22,8 | 126 442 - 50 472 - 28,5 | 116 139 - 60 775 - 34,4 |
| REFRIGERATION .... Change from 1976 — tes ' - % | 20 773 | 20 293 - 480 - 2,3 | 20 416 - 357 - 1,7 | 20 300 - 473 ~ 2,3 | 21 174 + 401 + 1,9 | 21 451 + 678 + 3,3 |
| FOAM PLASTICS Change from 1976 — t es - % | 42 154 | 45 254 + 3 10Q + 7,4 | 54 524 + 12 370 + 29,3 | 55 788 + 13 634 + 32,3 | 61 859 + 19 705 + 46,7 | 64 067 + 21 913 + 52,0 |
| . SOLVENTS/OTHER USES . Change from 1976 -tes .. ■ - % | 4 178 | 4 871 * 693 + 16,6 | 6 073 + 1 895 + 45,4 | 6 921 + 2 743 + 65,7 | 7 353 + . 3 175 + 76,0 | 8 108 + 3 930 + 94,1 . |
| TOTAL SALES IN EEC . Change-from 1976 —tes S - X | 244 019 | 232 986 - 11 033 “ 4,5 | 231 437 - 12 5S2 - 5,2 | 219 561 - 24 458 - 10,0 | 216 828 - 27 191 " 11,1 | 209 765 - 34 254 - 14,0 |
| TOTAL EXPORTS OUTSIDE EEC Change from 1976 - t es - % | 83 578 | 81 187 - 2 391 ~ 2,9 | 82 236 - 1 342 - 1,6 | 81 636 - 1 942 - 2,3 | 79 361 - 4 217 - 5,0 | 88 243 + 4 665 + 5,6 |
| TOTAL EEC AND EXPORT SALES Change from 1976 - tes - X | 327 597 | 314 173 - 13 424 - 4,1 | 313 673 - 13 924 - 4,3 | 301 197 - 26 400 - 8,1 | 296 189 - 31 408 - 9,6 | 298 008 - 29 589 - 9,0 |
| PRODUCTION LESS SALES | - 1 164 | - 4 934 | - 6 640 | + 3 041 | - 471 | + 2 136 |