German experts group calls for trading scheme to cut EU car emissions

Tue 21 June 2005 View all news

A panel of environmental experts (SRU) appointed by the German government is calling for a Europe-wide carbon dioxide trading scheme aimed at bringing average new car emissions down to 100 grams per kilometre (g/km) by 2012.

According to a report in ENDS, the SRU wants an integrated environmental protection strategy for road transport aimed at tackling the sector's environment and health impacts.  It says that these cannot be achieved by individual measures alone.

The SRU also criticises the current EU-industry voluntary agreements on CO2 emissions which it describes as "ineffectual". (European, Japanese and Korean carmakers have committed to cut average new car CO2 emissions to 140 g/km by 2008/9.) 

The SRU calls for a target of 100 g/km by 2012, to be achieved through tradable permits for fleet average emissions, linked to the EU's existing industrial CO2 emission trading scheme.

The SRU also calls for German vehicle taxation to be linked more closely to CO2 emissions and for futher rises in petrol duty, justified by environmental concerns.

Related Links

SRU press release (In German)
Article on latest progress towards voluntary agreements



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