UK Millenium Dome and HFCs - Media Briefing

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE MEDIA BRIEFING  The Millennium Dome and HFCs 
  
UK, March 16, 1998 - Peter Mandelson was questioned today,
during oral questions in the  House of Commons about the
decision of the New Millennium Experience  Company (NMEC) to use
HFCs (a climate change gas) in the air  conditioning units of
the millennium dome.
 
 HFCs are part of the "basket of gases" that are to be regulated
under  the Kyoto Protocol to the climate convention. The final
agreement was  seen as being a triumph for the Deputy Prime
Minister John Prescott,  who was a significant player in
brokering the agreement between the  conflicting factions. HFCs
were included because they are powerful  global warming gases.
The particular HFC in question, HFC-134a, is  1300 times more
powerful than carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas,  and
there are a variety of other reasons, for example, toxic waste 
generation, why these gases are undesirable from an
environmental  point of view.
 
 Greenpeace was aware through correspondence and meetings with
NMEC  that they were preparing to let the contract to an HFC
equipment  provider, the US company, Carrier. It was announced
late on the  afternoon of Friday 13th March that the decision to
proceed with HFCs  had been taken.  Carrier manufactures some
equipment here in Europe.  In this case the equipment is from
their "global chiller" range, which  is manufactured in France.
 
 Greenpeace has communicated its grave concerns about this
decision to  Peter Mandelson, pointing out that as a flagship
project, the Dome  should be a positive portrayal of a more
environmentally friendly  future.  Far from encouraging the
extended use of gases ultimately  destined for phase out if
dangerous climate change is to be averted,  the Dome should be
supporting the Government's stance on climate  change and
sending a positive message that the use of such gases is  not
acceptable anymore.
 
 Greenpeace has received faxes from three companies which say
they are  able to provide air conditioning equipment using
alternative, more  environmentally benign, refrigerants or
technologies, if asked and to  deadline.
 
 Greenpeace believe that DETR is not happy with the NMEC's 
decision to  undermine Prescott's Kyoto work by using HFCs.
 
Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org