Brussels warns carmakers: meet targets to slash CO2 emissions or face tougher laws

Manufacturers on course to miss pledge of 25% drop· Treble annual reductions, says commissioner Nicholas Watt in BrusselsWednesday August 30, 2006The Guardian
Car manufacturers were given a blunt warning yesterday from Brussels, which said companies would face stringent laws if they failed to abide by their commitment to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
European, Japanese and Korean carmakers were threatened with the "stick" of mandatory cuts in the polluting emissions after figures showed that they were on course to miss a 25% reduction in CO2 levels by 2009.
Gregor Kreuzhuber, the European commission's industry spokesman, said: "The [commission] will not hesitate to replace the carrot with the stick. This would be regulation. The car industry should be aware that we are watching the situation very closely."


Brussels warns carmakers: meet targets to slash CO2 emissions or face tougher laws · Manufacturers on course to miss pledge of 25% drop· Treble annual reductions, says commissioner Nicholas Watt in BrusselsWednesday August 30, 2006The Guardian
Car manufacturers were given a blunt warning yesterday from Brussels, which said companies would face stringent laws if they failed to abide by their commitment to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
European, Japanese and Korean carmakers were threatened with the "stick" of mandatory cuts in the polluting emissions after figures showed that they were on course to miss a 25% reduction in CO2 levels by 2009.
Gregor Kreuzhuber, the European commission's industry spokesman, said: "The [commission] will not hesitate to replace the carrot with the stick. This would be regulation. The car industry should be aware that we are watching the situation very closely."


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The warning came after new figures showed that CO2 emissions from new cars dropped by 12.4% between 1995 and 2004. But the industry had agreed to cut average CO2 emissions to 140g per km by 2008-09 - a fall of 25% on 1995 levels.
Günter Verheugen, the European industry and enterprise commissioner, praised the sector for having made "continuous and substantial" progress since 1995. But he added: "The situation is not satisfactory. I urge the industry to step up their efforts."
The commission warned carmakers that they had to act now after CO2 emissions were cut on average by just 1.2% between 2003-04. Japanese carmakers, such as Daihatsu, Honda and Lexus, will have to achieve annual cuts of 3.5% to meet the agreed target.
European firms, such as BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo, and Korean makers, such as Daewoo and Hyundai, will have to achieve annual cuts of 3.3%.
"We expect the industry to step up its efforts and stick by its commitments," Mr Kreuzhuber said. "We have a voluntary agreement with the car manufacturers. It is ambitious but it is achievable."
Under the Kyoto protocol, the commission has made cuts in vehicle emissions a key part of its campaign to reduce greenhouse gases to 8% below 1990 levels by 2012. Road transport generates more than a fifth of all CO2 emissions, with cars responsible for half of these. Emissions from cars and lorries have increased by 22% since 1990.
The commission wants to cut cars' CO2 emissions from 120g/km by 2012. European manufacturers agreed to achieve the first target of 140g/km by 2008, while Japanese and Korean makers agreed to achieve this target the following year.
Stavros Dimas, Europe's environment commissioner, said: "To combat climate change and respect our Kyoto commitments, we have to reduce CO2 emissions from transport - a sector [contributing] significantly to overall emissions."
Brussels also has four-wheel drive vehicles in its sights. "The heavier the car, the greater the CO2 emissions," Mr Kreuzhuber said. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, which represents 13 carmakers, emphasised the progress it had made. Ivan Hodac, the secretary general, said: "The commitment is successful in ensuring CO2 emissions are reduced steadily in a relatively short period." The association said CO2 emissions from new cars had been cut from 185g/km in 1995 to 161g in 2004. About a million new cars a year now emit 120g or less.
Mr Hodac said: "There is now a need to link the taxation of cars and of alternative fuels more vigorously to CO2 emissions."Special reportWaste and pollutionNet notes11.07.2002: Rubbish01.08.2002: RatsUseful linksWaste and recycling - Defra'Are you doing your bit?' recycling campaignCommunity Recycling NetworkWaste and Resources Action ProgrammeUK Recycled Products Guide