On 3 March 2008, at the meeting of the EU Environment Council chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning, Mr Janez Podobnik, EU Ministers for the Environment re-affirmed their commitment to adopting the climate-energy legislation package in spring 2009. To this end, in Council conclusions which will be forwarded to the EU Heads of States and Government, the Ministers undertook to reach political agreement on the package at the level of the Council. This should enable the European Parliament to approve the package during its current term of office.

Press release

To ensure the EU meets its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol, in 2007 the EU proposed a comprehensive new strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union.

Whilst the EU as a whole has reduced its emissions of GHG by just under 5% over the 1990-2004 period, the CO₂ emissions from road transport have increased by 26%.

In the context of road transport, car usage has significant impacts on climate change. Approximately 12% of the overall EU emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), (the main greenhouse gas) comes from the fuel consumed by passenger cars.

The Community strategy to tackle CO₂, as proposed by the Commission in 1995 and subsequently supported by the Council and European Parliament, has until 2007 been based on consumer information, the promotion of fuel-efficient cars via fiscal measures but above all the car industry's voluntary commitments.

The voluntary commitments undertaken by the European, Japanese and Korean car manufacturers associations relate to a target of 140 g CO₂/km by 2008 or 2009.

Although significant progress has been made, average emissions have fallen from only 186g/km in 1995 to 163g/km in 2004. The Commission has therefore decided that the voluntary commitments will not achieve their target and that binding legislation was necessary.

With automobile manufacturers expected to miss their 2008 voluntary commitment to reduce CO₂ emissions, in February 2007 the Commission proposed new binding legislation, aimed at reaching the Community objective of 120 g CO₂/km by 2012.

The car industry has firmly rejected the plans, arguing that they have already achieved strong cuts through technological improvements and laying the blame for slow progress on other factors. 

Today, CLEPA members have the necessary technologies available to help the car makers reduce CO₂ emissions. It is up to the car makers to choose the appropriate technologies which are necessary in order to meet the future EU legislative targets. We believe that a joint effort between the Suppliers and the car makers is the way forward in order to best reduce CO₂ emissions and to enhance the industry's growth and competitiveness. In order to support the substantial R&D effort already undertaken by the industry we urge the European Commission to make more funds available within the FP7. A further reduction of CO₂ emissions via complementary measures should be achieved through more stringent maintenance regulations, improved infrastructure, traffic-management, eco-driving and retro-fitting measures.

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Results of the review of the Community Strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles

Automotive Industry Unit (European Commission, DG Enterprise & Industry)

European Passenger Car CEOs jointly express resolve to further cut carbon emissions from cars

CLEPA-ACEA Press Release: Eco-innovative technologies – A way to larger cost-effective CO2 emission reductions from cars

CLEPA position on CO2 emissions reductions

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