Brussels, 19/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - According to a new study published by the Greens/EFA group at the European Parliament, only strict, binding CO2 emissions limits for cars in the medium and long-term will enable the EU to meet its overall emissions reduction targets. The study demonstrates this by calculating the actual CO2 reductions that would be achieved through the various emissions limits currently under debate.
The study was published on 18 October, a few days ahead of the debate at the European Parliament (in the evening of 22 October) on the European Commission's revised strategy for cutting CO2 emissions from new cars and vans, unveiled in February 2007.
The study reveals that only with a binding 120g/km limit in 2012, and a strong follow-up limit value in 2020, will the necessary emissions reductions from passenger cars be achieved by 2020 - namely a 80 to 100 million tonne cut in CO2 emissions. This is the scale of cut that will required if the EU is to meet its total emission reduction target of 20% by 2020 (830 million tonnes) because car emissions already account for 12% of EU CO2 emissions. The study also shows that an ambitious CO2 emission reduction target in car manufacturing will speed up technical innovation to make cars more environmentally friendly, and thereby provide EU car manufacturers with the possibility of catching up with the rest of the world in terms of clean technology or even becoming world leaders. The study concludes that ambitious upper limits for 2012 and 2020 will be good for the climate, good for the car industry and good for the credibility of EU policies.
'There has been political agreement on this limit value for more than ten years (Ed: 120 g/km); if we let car-makers off the hook again, the whole EU climate strategy will be jeopardised,' explained Rebecca Harms (British Green MEP). Luxembourg Green MEP Claude Turmes added: 'This study reveals that ambitious reductions are already achievable if the car industry stops stalling. It also reveals the 'integrated approach' being plugged by the industry for what it is: a smokescreen that would allow them to shirk responsibility for tackling the pollution from the cars they manufacture. Clearly this means changing the practice, in particular by German manufacturers, of building ever-bigger gas guzzlers.' The Greens/EFA hope to win over the European Parliament plenary, when it debates the own initiative report by British Liberal Democrat Chris Davies (see EUROPE 9502), and convince it to reject the integrated approach put forward by the Commission to make use of other measures alongside car technology alone, like adding biofuel to petrol, improving tyres, and innovations in air conditioning systems. (A.N.)