Kommission will Autohersteller zur Verantwortung ziehen[en] 

In order to respect its Kyoto commitments, the EU is trying to reduce CO2 emissions from road transport – a sector that generates more than one fifth of all CO2 emissions in the EU. Passenger cars alone are responsible for more than half of these emissions. 

Back in 1998, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) promised the European Commission to reach average emissions of 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre for new cars by 2008. Japanese and Korean makers, represented by JAMA and KAMA, agreed on the same target by 2009. 

The final EU target, agreed by heads of state and government, is to reach an average CO2 emission figure of 120 g/km for all new passenger cars by 2010. 

Latest data from the Commission show that although car manufacturers succeeded in reducing their CO2 emissions by 12.4% since 1995, they are still a long way off the target they are meant to reach in less than three years. 

With average emissions still standing at 160 grams per kilometre in 2004, car manufacturers were only down 1% on figures from 2003. 

The data concur with a report released by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) in April (see EurActiv April 2006). But the environmental NGO goes a step further, providing figures for the year 2005 which show that car manufacturers are even further off track, having continued to emit 160 grams of CO2 per kilometre in 2005. 

Criticising the Commission for delaying official monitoring reports on the implementation of the CO2 reduction strategy for cars for far too long (data for 2004 is only being published “20 months after the reporting period ended”), T&E states that the EU car industry will now "almost certainly" fall short of its voluntary commitment. 

Indeed, manufacturers would have to cut CO2 by an unprecedented 4.3% every year for the next three years if they are to reach the 140 grams/km target by 2008. 

Spokesman for Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen, Gregor Kreuzhuber, said the situation is “by no means satisfactory”. He said the Commission would continue to monitor the process but, if it becomes clear that the “carrot approach” is not working, the Commission will have to move to a “stick approach”, which would include legislative measures to ensure that the necessary CO2 reductions are achieved. He did not specify when this decision could be taken. 

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) underlined the fact that consumer demand for safer and larger cars and regulations concerning safety and air pollution have had a counter-productive impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions for new cars. Despite these developments, it said, the industry has successfully achieved a 13% reduction in CO2 emissions since 1995. Communications Director Sigrid de Vries said it was much too soon to say that the car industry would fail to meet its 2008 target. "This is 2004 data only," she said. "ACEA does not think it is yet appropriate to talk about legislation".

Director of T&E Jos Dings said: “The one piece of good news in the Commission report is the acknowledgement that legally binding options to reduce emissions are now on the table. The existing voluntary commitment with carmaker associations lacks transparency and fails to punish poor performance or reward progress. It’s important that any future legislative proposal holds individual carmakers to account, gives incentives to cut emissions and punishes those that fail.”