EU may back down on emissions

08 August 2007

2012 carbon dioxide targets may change
Germans push for grading scheme according to car type
French and Italians want to stick by tough proposals

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The European Union is reported to be preparing to climb down from its draconian plans to reduce carbon dioxide output from cars by 2012.

The EU's controversial plans centred on setting an average emissions ceiling of 130 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for the fleet of each car company by 2012.

It is now said to be considering more flexible proposals whereby categories of car are created, such as 'supermini' and 'executive', with individual CO2/km limits for each. A similar system is already in use in Japan.

This potential change follows lobbying from Germany. It would allow manufacturers of heavier cars, such as Porsche, BMW and Mercedes, more chance of meeting targets. Porsche, for instance, currently averages 297g/km of CO2 across its range

It is opposed, however, by France and Italy because Citroen, Peugeot, Renault and Fiat were all hoping to increase their market share if the strictest limits were imposed. Fiat, for instance, currently averages 146g/km of CO2 across its range.

A decision is expected from the European parliament's environment committee in September, although Germany is said to hold considerable sway in discussions.

One-seventh of Germany's workforce is involved in some way in the car industry and there are concerns that any decision against it could cripple its – and Europe's – economy.

However, the author of the European parliament's own report on emissions, Chris Davies, has insisted that no plans have been agreed yet, saying that the EU's environment directorate would resist moves to dilute the proposals.

Controversially, Davies is also pushing for a limit of 95g/km of CO2 by 2020 and a ban on cars that can travel at more than 100mph.