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Car firms facing pollution curbs Car firms facing pollution curbs
(about 2 hours later)
The European Commission has proposed to force carmakers to make an 18% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars by 2012, by improving vehicle technology. The European Commission has proposed forcing carmakers to increase the fuel efficiency of new cars by 18%, by 2012.
Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said legislation was planned to ensure the average car emitted no more than 130g of CO2 per kilometre. It says it is planning legislation to ensure the average car emits no more than 130g of CO2 per kilometre, compared with 162g/km in 2005.
The average level for new cars in 2005 was 162g per kilometre. The car industry described the EU target as "arbitrary" and said it would lead to a loss of jobs and relocation of production overseas.
The car industry has warned that the commission's plans could lead to job losses and factory closures. But environmentalists said the proposal did not go far enough.
We will shortly be in a position to provide not only the safest and best cars, but also the cleanest cars - that is the future of the European automobile industry Industry commissioner Guenter Verheugen Send us your comments But Mr Verheugen said the EU's approach must not lead to a shift of production abroad, or to European consumers being forced to buy smaller cars from non-European manufacturers. We will shortly be in a position to provide not only the safest and best cars, but also the cleanest cars - that is the future of the European automobile industry Industry commissioner Guenter Verheugen Send us your comments Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen urged the industry to see the commission's proposal as a spur to innovation.
"The motor industry faces a major challenge... I would urge them to face up to it and not consider it a burden but consider it a positive challenge," he said."The motor industry faces a major challenge... I would urge them to face up to it and not consider it a burden but consider it a positive challenge," he said.
He added: "We will shortly be in a position to provide not only the safest and best cars, but also the cleanest cars - that is the future of the European automobile industry."He added: "We will shortly be in a position to provide not only the safest and best cars, but also the cleanest cars - that is the future of the European automobile industry."
Missed targets Kyoto targets
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said that without the action the commission was proposing, the European Union would not meet its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto treaty, or any post-Kyoto commitments.Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said that without the action the commission was proposing, the European Union would not meet its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto treaty, or any post-Kyoto commitments.
CO2 fight only beginning class="" href="/1/hi/business/6318099.stm">Carmakers fail green test He said EU member states had a major responsibility to encourage the purchase of fuel-efficient cars. If left unchanged, the commission proposal would erode the economic strength of Europe ACEA president Sergio Marchionne CO2 fight only beginning The commissioners assured carmakers that the 130g/km average would not apply to each individual manufacturer, but to the industry as a whole.
The commissioners assured the industry that the 130g/km average would not apply to each individual manufacturer, but to the industry as a whole.
They said the precise definition of the regulatory approach would be decided later.They said the precise definition of the regulatory approach would be decided later.
Mr Dimas had wanted an upper limit of 120g/km but was forced to compromise, after strong opposition from the German car industry and from his fellow commissioner, Mr Verheugen. But the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) said the commission's proposals focused too much on vehicle technology and not enough on other mechanisms to bring down emissions, such as taxes and better fuels.
The commissioners said their proposal envisaged the target of 130g/km being reached by the use of new car technology, but further measures, including increased use of biofuel, would mean that cars overall emitted no more than 120g of CO2 per kilometre by 2012. "If left unchanged, the commission proposal would erode the economic strength of Europe," said ACEA president Sergio Marchionne.
The commission proposed measures last week to increase the use of biofuels. It also wants member states to impose higher taxes on high-emitting cars, but some governments routinely veto tax harmonisation.
'Disappointing''Disappointing'
Jos Dings of the environmental pressure group Transport and Environment (T&E) said the 130g/km limit was a disappointing response to the calls last week by a UN panel of experts for serious action on climate change. Mr Dimas had wanted an upper limit of 120g/km but was forced to compromise, after strong opposition from the German car industry and from Mr Verheugen.
He said the retreat from Mr Dimas' preferred 120g/km fuel-efficiency target, was a "reward" to the car industry for making insufficient progress to meet a voluntary target of 140g/km by 2008. class="" href="/1/hi/business/6318099.stm">Carmakers fail green test
AVERAGE CAR C02 EMISSIONS 1995: 185g/km2005: 162g/km2008: 140g/km (voluntary industry target)2012: 130g/km (European Commission proposal)2020: 80g/km (target proposed by T&E) The commissioners said their proposal envisaged the target of 130g/km being reached thanks to new car technology, but further measures, including increased use of biofuel, would mean that cars overall emitted no more than 120g of CO2 per kilometre by 2012.
Jos Dings of the environmental pressure group Transport and Environment (T&E) said the 130g/km limit was a "disappointing response" to the calls last week by a UN panel of experts for serious action on climate change.
He said the retreat from Mr Dimas' preferred 120g/km fuel-efficiency target, was a "reward" to the car industry for making insufficient progress towards its voluntary target of 140g/km by 2008.
He called for the EU to fix an 80g/km limit for 2020.He called for the EU to fix an 80g/km limit for 2020.
The European car industry says consumers have so far shown little interest in cars with smaller engines and lower emissions. AVERAGE CAR C02 EMISSIONS 1995: 185g/km2005: 162g/km2008: 140g/km (voluntary industry target)2012: 130g/km (European Commission proposal)2020: 80g/km (target proposed by T&E) Transport is the only sector in Europe that has shown dramatic increases in CO2 emissions over the last 15 years.
It also says there are more cost-efficient ways of reducing transport emissions than introducing costly new technology, such as reducing traffic congestion and changing driver behaviour.
Transport is the only sector in Europe that has shown dramatic increases in CO2 emissions over the last 15 years.
The car industry has made huge improvements in engine efficiency, but the power, size and weight have cars have also increased rapidly.The car industry has made huge improvements in engine efficiency, but the power, size and weight have cars have also increased rapidly.
As a result, CO2 emissions have only fallen by 23g/km from the 1995 level of 185g/km.As a result, CO2 emissions have only fallen by 23g/km from the 1995 level of 185g/km.
Mr Verheugen said a detailed impact assessment would be now carried out, and that discussions would continue with scientists, research institutes, manufacturers and other interested parties. Mr Verheugen said discussions would continue with scientists, research institutes, manufacturers and other interested parties, as a detailed impact assessment was carried out.
Legislation is likely to be drafted later this year. It will then need to be agreed by member states and the European Parliament. Legislation is likely to be drafted later this year, or early in 2008. It will then need to be approved by member states and the European Parliament.