MEPs refuse to bow to manufacturer pressure

Date: 02 October 2007   |   Author: Rupert Saunders

Leading MEPs have sent a strong signal to Europe's carmakers and policy advisers that they are not ready to budge on proposals to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions to a new car average of 120g/km by 2012.

Meeting last month, members of the European Parliament's environment committee rejected a compromise proposal from the European Commission that the limit should be extended to 130g/km from vehicle tailpipes. The EC was proposing that a further 10g/km savings should come from other measures such as fuel quality and easing of traffic congestion.

The committee members reinforced the decision to go for 120g/km by 2012 and further suggested there should be binding targets of 95g/km by 2020 and 70g/km by 2025.

There will be a debate on the issue by the full EP on 16 October. Its position will be used as input to a formal legislative proposal the EC is expected to publish early next year.

Europe's carmakers have suggested they would accept a target of 120g/km by 2015, if it's part of "an integrated approach" and there is sufficient lead time to adopt new technologies. They also rejected the 130g/km from tailpipes by 2012 proposal but, so far, have refused to set their own targets. They also want "a parameter-based solution" indicating that vehicle weight should be a factor. But the environment committee rejected this suggestion, and voted that any categories should be based on "footprint", taken as meaning the area between the four wheels. This would encourage carmakers to sell more small vehicles.

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