The European Union said it would like to discuss PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and natural refrigerants in a contact group during the opening session of the 47th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Parties in Bangkok.
Martin Alex Bjørnholst, a Special Advisor to Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, made the comments for Denmark. Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, and Alex Bjørnholst addressed the delegates on behalf of the bloc.
“We would like to take this chance to reflect on the priorities that we would like to discuss in a contact group,” Alex Bjørnholst said. “These primarily relate to simplification of the language reflecting developments associated with decisions adopted by the Meeting of the Parties and the executive committee of the Multilateral Fund while giving clear guidance to the TEAP [Technology and Economic Assessment Panel] to enable them to provide precise estimates aligned with the needs of parties and maintaining the high level of ambition to address the global challenges we’re facing.”
“A particularly important issue is the increasing awareness of the potentially harmful effects on the environment and human health of PFAS substances,” Alex Bjørnholst added. “This has led to an increasing number of regulatory measures from parties underlining the urgency of the matter and of better understanding costs and savings related to leapfrogging by moving directly to natural refrigerants.”
Denmark, along with Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency to restrict PFAS under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), the EU’s chemicals regulation. The proposal is currently being evaluated, with restrictions on the use of PFAS in f-gases having been discussed back in March.
Denmark’s comments begin at the 1:12:00 mark.
The OEWG and contact groups
The OEWG was established in the wake of the Montreal Protocol, with delegates from parties to the Protocol (signatory countries) meeting at least once a year to discuss the latest research, implementation issues and possible adjustments and amendments. The event is also open to members of industry, nongovernmental organizations and academics.
A contact group is a working group made up of delegates to the OEWG that meets to discuss specific issues in-depth outside of plenary meetings. Currently there is only one contact group listed for the 47th OEWG, the “TOR [terms of reference] Replenishment study,” which helps inform how much funding is available to help developing nations meet their commitments under the Montreal Protocol.
The 47th OEWG is being held from July 7–11 and ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, is holding a side event in Bangkok dedicated to PFAS and natural refrigerants on July 10.
“A particularly important issue is the increasing awareness of the potentially harmful effects on the environment and human health of PFAS substances.”
Martin Alex Bjørnholst
Special Advisor to Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality
