§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evaluation has been undertaken by his Department of the effects of HFC coolants in pressurised drink containers. [6343]
§ Mr. MeacherLast month's meeting of the EU Environment Council noted with concern reports about the development of self-chilling drinks cans using certain substances which have a high global warming potential, including HFC—134a which has a global warming potential 1,300 times greater than carbon dioxide. The Council invited the European Commission to investigate this situation and its possible implications for global warming and to bring forward proposals for appropriate action.
My Department has estimated that if self-chilling drink cans using HFC—134a captured 10 per cent. of the UK market by 2000, they would produce emissions equivalent to around 43.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide: equivalent to over half the projected reduction in UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2000.