“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” famously joked Mark Twain after hearing that his obituary had been published in the New York Journal. Rather surprisingly, mistaken publications of obituaries aren’t as rare as you might expect and in fact, Mark Twain himself twice had the misfortune (or perhaps good fortune, given that he was still breathing!) of reading his obituary in the newspapers.
It also seems that it is not only celebrities who prematurely have their demise reported. This week saw a number of news reports claiming that the EU had issued a communication proposing the phase-out of HFCs. However, anyone that takes the time to actually read the document will find that the phrase ‘phase-out” is conspicuous in its absence in the actually EU communication and no ban is specifically proposed at all. Add to this, that the proposals have yet to be discussed and agreed by EU ministers and all of a sudden it becomes clear that predictions as to the possible measures to reduce green house gas emissions to be proposed by the EU at the international summit in Copenhagen later this year are just that ..predictions.
The long-term future of HFCs may be uncertain and it would appear that it is under discussion, but those that are quick to write them off immediately should perhaps show a little more caution.
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