The Alliance for CO2 Solutions: DuPont's Latest Chemical is Flammable, Potentially Toxic & Less Efficient

BRUSSELS, November 26 -- Due to be launched this week, the chemical companies' answer to new legislative requirements for car air-conditioning is flammable, potentially toxic, with unknown long-term effects on the atmosphere.

"The German car industry (VDA) has already chosen a sustainable solution for the next-generation car air-conditioning, the natural refrigerant CO2. However, the chemical companies continue to lobby against this viable alternative by promising another miracle substance. A detailed look at its composition reveals that this substance is flammable, potentially toxic, has unknown global warming effects, in addition to having higher fuel consumption than current systems. This is simply a delaying tactic in order to protect current revenues as long as possible," says Wolfgang Lohbeck, Greenpeace's Head of Special Projects, and supporter of the Alliance for CO2 Solutions.

Over the last two years, leading chemical companies have presented several "miracle" solutions. All have failed industry safety requirements. The latest one, to be presented this week, will be no different, as it is based on a chemical substance which has already been rejected.

Worth $14.5 billion in 2007, the battle for the car air-conditioning market emanates from the decision to phase out the current refrigerant HFC-134a. With a global warming potential over 1,400 times higher than that of CO2, the EU MAC Directive has legislated the phase-out of HFC-134a from January 2011. To comply with the Directive carmakers need 3 years to develop and introduce car platforms including new air conditioning systems. The German Automotive Association (VDA) has already opted for CO2 as a refrigerant. As time runs out, all eyes are now on other carmakers from Europe, Asia and America to make a sustainable choice. Switching to CO2-based car air conditioning has the potential to knock out 1% of global greenhouse gases.

The Alliance for CO2 Solutions is a grouping of organisations that support the use of CO2 Technology in car air conditioning. Its supporters include Greenpeace, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Ixetic, Konvekta, SINTEF and Shecco.