Environment minister calls for car makers CO2 penalties
Sat 09 July 2005
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Germany's environment minister has proposed that if European car makers fail to meet CO2 reduction targets, they should pay into a fund to finance emission reductions in developing countries.
According to ENDS, Jurgen Trittin has written a letter urging all European manufacturers to voluntarily cut average new car CO2 emissions to 120 grams per kilometre (g/km). If they do not meet the target, they should pay the difference in equivalent carbon credits into the Kyoto protocol's clean development mechanism, he said.
Mr Trittin wrote: "In terms of meeting climate goals during the second phase of Kyoto, namely 2008 to 2012, it is essential that the auto industry make a verifiable contribution to reducing emissions".
Last year Mr Trittin was among the first politicians to say that if the car manufacturers fail to reach a new voluntary agreement on emissions, the EU should legislate to require the 120 g/km standard.
There have also been more recent suggestions of an emissions trading scheme for car makers similar to the EU's industrial CO2 emission trading scheme.
Mr Trittin is environment minister in Gerhard Schroder's Government which is now contesting a general election.
Related Links
Environment Daily (ENDS) link
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