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New cars sold in EU must be zero-emission from 2035 | New cars sold in EU must be zero-emission from 2035 |
(32 minutes later) | |
An exhaust pipe of a car in Berlin, Germany | An exhaust pipe of a car in Berlin, Germany |
Countries in the European Union have approved a landmark law that will ensure all new cars sold from 2035 must have zero emissions. | Countries in the European Union have approved a landmark law that will ensure all new cars sold from 2035 must have zero emissions. |
Poland voted against the law, while Italy, Bulgaria and Romania abstained. | Poland voted against the law, while Italy, Bulgaria and Romania abstained. |
The agreement was delayed for weeks after Germany called for an exemption for cars running on e-fuels. | The agreement was delayed for weeks after Germany called for an exemption for cars running on e-fuels. |
E-fuels are argued to be carbon neutral because they use captured CO2 emissions to balance out the CO2 released when the fuel is combusted in an engine. | E-fuels are argued to be carbon neutral because they use captured CO2 emissions to balance out the CO2 released when the fuel is combusted in an engine. |
The new law had been expected to make it impossible to sell internal combustion engine cars in the EU from 2035. | The new law had been expected to make it impossible to sell internal combustion engine cars in the EU from 2035. |
However, the exemption won by Germany will now help those with traditional vehicles - even though e-fuels are not yet produced at scale. | However, the exemption won by Germany will now help those with traditional vehicles - even though e-fuels are not yet produced at scale. |
The EU will say how sales of e-fuel-only cars can continue later this year. | The EU will say how sales of e-fuel-only cars can continue later this year. |
Passenger cars and vans are responsible for about 12% and 2.5% respectively of total EU emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas, according to the European Commission. | |
Earlier this month the UN warned that the world was likely to miss a target for limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C. | Earlier this month the UN warned that the world was likely to miss a target for limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C. |
Five things we've learned from UN climate report | Five things we've learned from UN climate report |
The new EU law will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, compared to 2021 levels. | The new EU law will require all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035, and 55% lower CO2 emissions from 2030, compared to 2021 levels. |
Germany's late opposition came after EU countries and politicians had already agreed the 2035 phaseout and caused anger among some EU diplomats. | Germany's late opposition came after EU countries and politicians had already agreed the 2035 phaseout and caused anger among some EU diplomats. |
"As a matter of principle, we don't like this approach. We think it is not fair," Spanish energy minister Teresa Ribera said, adding that current assessments suggested e-fuels were too expensive to become widely used. | "As a matter of principle, we don't like this approach. We think it is not fair," Spanish energy minister Teresa Ribera said, adding that current assessments suggested e-fuels were too expensive to become widely used. |
Porsche and Ferrari are among the supporters of e-fuels, which they see as a way to avoid their vehicles being weighed down by heavy batteries. | Porsche and Ferrari are among the supporters of e-fuels, which they see as a way to avoid their vehicles being weighed down by heavy batteries. |
But other carmakers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Ford will use electric vehicles to decarbonise. | But other carmakers including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Ford will use electric vehicles to decarbonise. |
German transport minister Volker Wissing said Tuesday's agreement would "open up important options for the population towards climate-neutral and affordable mobility". | German transport minister Volker Wissing said Tuesday's agreement would "open up important options for the population towards climate-neutral and affordable mobility". |
EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans added: "The direction of travel is clear: in 2035, new cars and vans must have zero emissions," | EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans added: "The direction of travel is clear: in 2035, new cars and vans must have zero emissions," |
What you can do to reduce carbon emissions | What you can do to reduce carbon emissions |
A really simple guide to climate change | A really simple guide to climate change |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Germany | Germany |
Climate change | Climate change |
Environment | Environment |
European Union | European Union |