HYDROFLUOROCARBONS AND SUPERMARKET REFRIGERATION

That this House notes with grave concern the large-scale domestic emissions of potent greenhouse gases hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) commonly used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and as foam blowing agents; welcomes the recent publication of the Environmental Investigation Agency's Chilling Facts report into the impact of supermarket refrigeration on climate change, supermarkets being the largest source of domestic HFC emissions; notes the availability of low global warming impact alternatives; further notes the initiatives in other European countries which have been successful in reducing HFC emissions; further notes calls from supermarkets for legislation against the use of HFCs in order to create a level playing field; calls on all supermarket retailers to phase-out immediately their use of HFCs; urges the Government to support a phase-out of domestic consumption of HFCs, as has happened in Austria and Denmark; and calls on the Government to support interim steps to achieve deep emission reductions such as HFC taxation, which is working successfully in Norway and Denmark and being assessed in Sweden.