Industry pressure to water down EU car emissions target?

The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) voted on Monday in favour of proposals which water down a European Commission proposal requiring manufacturers to cut their vehicles' average CO₂ emissions from current levels of around 160g/km to 120g/km by 2012. Concretely, the committee proposed the following:

• Gradual Phase-In: The Industry Committee proposal requires carmakers only to ensure that 60% of their fleet meets the target by 2012, with 70% compliance by 2013, 80% by 2014 and 100% by 2015. This would mean that emissions curbs would only be applied to the cleanest part of each manufacturer's fleet. The proposal, thus giving car manufactures an extra three years' breathing space to implement carbon dioxide emission reductions, practically would have no effect until 2015.
   
• Exceptions for next-generation cars: The proposal recommends that manufacturers be allowed to count each new passenger car with emissions of less than 50 g/km and each new alternative-fuel vehicle as one-and-a-half cars and every zero-emissions vehicle as three cars through 2015.

• Lower penalties: The committee recommends to reduce planned fines, supporting a maximum penalty of €40 for every gram/kilometer above the limits as opposed to the original European Commission proposal which targets penalties of up to €95.
  On a more positive note, the Committee voted in favour of a long-term target of cutting CO₂ emissions from new cars to 95g by 2020.

Carmakers lacking progress

The Parliament proposals came shortly after a study showed that car manufacturers only reduced their CO₂ emissions by 1.7% on average over the past year – a far cry from the average 17% cut they will have to achieve within the next four years to comply with the planned 120 g/km target. The report, however, also found that some carmakers are making great strides in improving fuel efficiency, such as BMW AG, who reduced emissions of CO₂ by 7.3% last year, showcasing that curbing CO₂ car emissions by 2012 is feasible.

An opinion poll‘s results meanwhile proved strong support for tough car emission targets among citizens in some of Europe’s strongest car markets, namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Nearly half of all respondents thus supported measures to force carmakers to reduce their car’s fuel consumption by 25% - equivalent to the 120 g CO₂/km target now discussed by the European Parliament. 10% would be even willing to pay between 1-5% more for a new car that consumed 25% less fuel but had the same size and performance. Two thirds supported the statement that emission reduction measure will benefit their national economy.

Next Steps & Background

The Parliament's Committee on Environment (ENVI) – the leading committee reporting on the issue - is expected to toughen up the Commission’s draft regulation and the Industry committee’s proposal. In October, the whole Parliament plenary will vote on the issue.
The original European Commission proposal issued in December 2007 sets a binding target for Europe's car makers of 120g per CO₂/km. This would come through an integrated approach whereby improvements in motor technology would have to reduce emissions to 130g CO₂/km while complementary measures such as improvements in tyres, air conditioning systems would contribute a further emissions cut of up to 10 g CO₂/km.