EU commits itself to 37.5 percent cut in car emissions by 2030
EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed to a 37.5 percent reduction in CO2 output for new cars by 2030. A 31 percent cut for utility vehicles is also planned.
Photo: PixarBay
EU commits itself to 37.5 percent cut in car emissions by 2030
EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed to a 37.5 percent reduction in CO2 output for new cars by 2030. A 31 percent cut for utility vehicles is also planned.
Photo: PixarBay
Negotiations went on for several weeks but EU member states and the European Parliament eventually reached agreement: by 2030 carbon-dioxide emissions from new cars will need to be 37.5 percent lower compared to 2021 levels.
The EU Commission had proposed a 30 percent reduction, while the Parliament wanted 40 percent. For their part member states advocated a 35 percent target, despite reticence from Germany and certain Eastern countries. The agreement also includes a 31 percent cut for utility vehicles. An intermediate objective of -15 percent was fixed for 2025, for both types of vehicles.
Car makers worry about jobs
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has criticised the objectives as “unrealistic” and expressed concerns about their effects on employment in the sector. “The industry deplores that this 2030 objective is entirely a response to political motivations, and does not take into account technological and socio-economic realities”, it said in a press release . In its statement the association asks member states to ensure that the preconditions required for this major emissions cut are met, particularly concerning “necessary infrastructure investments”.
For its part, the NGO Transport and Environment welcomed the measures while regretting that progress “is not going fast enough to meet our climate objectives”, according to Greg Archer, director of the group’s “clean vehicles” department.
