EU parliament calls for new environmental legislation

EU parliament members have called on the European Commission to put new environmental legislation in place in order to boost air quality across the continent.

Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of the introduction of rulings to curb emissions from greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide (CO2).

While the EU has been working hard to clamp down significantly on CO2 output, members of the parliament believe more focus needs to be put on to reducing emissions of fluorinated gases, which are most commonly used in fridges.

MEPs said hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons - which are also found in air conditioning units - pose a real threat to the ozone layer.

Black carbon was also on the agenda, with delegates keen to see stricter testing on car emissions undertaken.

According to the Carbon Disclosure Project, an increasing number of the world's largest corporations are now taking environmental issues seriously and the majority are seeing their financial performances improve as a result.

Posted by Claire Manning