An objective of cutting CO² emissions from the European fleet of new cars by 2030 on the 2021 level is what European environment ministers agreed to late on Tuesday 9 October in Luxembourg. This was one of the hottest points of the tough negotiations on the draft legislation of November to promote clean mobility, innovation and protection of the climate.
Shortly before midnight, the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU managed to come up with a general approach on the draft regulation establishing new CO² emissions rules for new private cars and vans post-2021 in the third clean mobility package. This was not a foregone conclusion, but a raft of compromise proposals and suspensions of meetings finally led to a qualified majority agreement to the great relief of the Austrian Presidency, whose hard work was praised.
After the meeting, Austrian federal minister for sustainability and tourism Elisabeth Köstinger said: "today's agreement is a further step towards new legislation on CO² emissions. It sets the European automotive industry on track to build cleaner cars, invest more in innovation, and report more reliable emission data. By 2030, new cars will emit on average 35% less CO² compared to the current emission standard limits. This is a solid basis on which to begin talks with the European Parliament."
Trilogue talks began on Wednesday. The inter-institutional negotiations were due to start at 19 hrs on Wednesday 10 October, so as to leave time for experts to finalise the exact terms of the compromise, explained a European source on Wednesday. The talks are likely to be tough because the European Parliament, which is far more ambitious, voted on 3 October for a 40% objective, to the delight of rapporteur Miriam Dalli (S&D, Malta) (see EUROPE 12109). European Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete immediately announced that the Commission was prepared to provide its help to the negotiators.
Qualified majority agreement. Twenty countries were able to support the compromise, including France, which was initially more ambitious, and Germany, which had strongly resisted any objective of more than 30% (see EUROPE 12113).
Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia wanted 40% or more and voted against. Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary and Malta abstained.
Ireland, backed by Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands, lodged a declaration to add to the meeting’s minutes to express its discontent at the lack of ambition, a sentiment shared by everyone – NGOs and MEPs – who accused Germany and the Visegrad nations of sabotaging an agreement able to respond to the alarm raised by the IPCC in October.
Reduction objectives. Basically, under the terms of the compromise, the reduction aim would be 35% for private cars by 2030, but would remain 30% for vans, with an intermediate objective of 15% by 2025 for both types of light vehicle, as proposed by the Commission. The reduction efforts would be shared out between car manufacturers according to the criterion of the average mass of their vehicles fleet.
Niche constructors. The derogation foreseen for niche constructors manufacturing small numbers of vehicles will be extended.
Incentives to use clean vehicles. For private cars, the bonus would be granted as soon as a share of 35% of low-carbon vehicles (such as rechargeable hybrids) or zero emissions (like electric cars) are sold by 2030. Moreover, car constructors in countries where the share of low or zero carbon vehicles currently on the market is less than 60% of the European average would benefit from an additional bonus to boost their sales. This measure enshrines a request formulated by Poland in particular.
Measuring emissions. The WLTP test procedure will be in application for calculating reduction levels applicable in 2025 and 2030 in order to avoid cheating by car manufacturers in the statement of emissions data and fuel consumption for vans and cars.
Germany under the spotlight. At the European Parliament, the Greens/EFA reproach the Council of ignoring the IPCC report. Germany’s Rebecca Harms says Germany had sabotaged climate protection, accusing minister Svenja Schulze of letting the car industry dictate the rules. Dutchman Bas Eickhout of the Greens chipped in: "only one day after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called for radical action and political will to keep global warming under 1.5 C, it seems that national governments like Germany are being towed along by the car industry."
Ismail Ertug, transport spokesperson for the S&D, talks of a disappointing result and a lost opportunity to speed up a turning point for the climate. Transport and Environment (T&E) NGO takes a similar stance.
The European Car Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) notes that the objectives are less aggressive than those voted through by the European Parliament, but fears the penalty system recommended by MEPs. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)