Manufacturers of fluorinated greenhouse gases and environmentalists are engaged in last minute battles to win MEPs' support ahead of a critical second reading vote in the European parliament next week.

In a report published on Friday, campaigning group Corporate Europe Observatory warned that MEPs will undermine the EU's Kyoto commitments if they do not endorse changes introduced by the parliament's environment committee on 11 October.

The group accused f-gas making and using industries of "plotting to subvert" the legislation, and published a recent strategy by refrigeration sector group Epee to try to win over MEPs. Next week's vote "is the last chance to save this crucial piece of EU climate policy," it claimed.

For its part, f-gas manufacturers' group EFCTC this week released a special alert over one particular amendment tabled by the parliament's environment committee, which it warned could have a "devastating impact" all parts of industry and society that relies on refrigeration.

Amendment 26 rules out use of f-gases where alternatives exist. If passed, this would immediately outlaw servicing of an estimated euro 60bn-worth of industrial and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning units in Europe, EFCTC claimed. Those who voted for the amendment "must have overlooked [its] immediate and catastrophic effects", it said.

Follow-up:
Corporate Europe Observatory http://www.corporateeurope.org/, tel: +31 20 612 7023, and report http://www.corporateeurope.org/chillingintent.pdf;
EFCTC, tel: +32 2 6767232, and press release http://www.fluorocarbons.org/documents/press_release/2005/EFCTC%20Impl ications%20of%20EU%20HFC%20bans_18_10_2005.pdf;
European parliament environment committee http://www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/envi/default_en.htm and amendments http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/am/580/580037/ 580037en.pdf.