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EU ministers OK car CO 2 emission cuts

Nov. 2, 1998

The European Union approved an agreement with the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) that is expected to reduce Europe's carbon dioxide emissions. EU said that ACEA has undertaken to meet an average CO 2 emissions target of 140 g/km for new passenger cars by 2008, which represents a 25% reduction from the 1995 average. "The commitment does not impose a target on the individual manufacturers," said the EU, "but only an overall average target for all ACEA members.

The European Union approved an agreement with the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA) that is expected to reduce Europe's carbon dioxide emissions.

EU said that ACEA has undertaken to meet an average CO₂ emissions target of 140 g/km for new passenger cars by 2008, which represents a 25% reduction from the 1995 average.

"The commitment does not impose a target on the individual manufacturers," said the EU, "but only an overall average target for all ACEA members.

"Individual ACEA members are free to apply more stringent as well as less stringent levels of CO₂ emissions provided that the average target is met. Under the commitment, car manufacturers will develop and introduce new CO₂-efficient technologies independently and in competition with each other."

The EU said that it welcomes ACEA's intention to review in 2003 the potential for further CO₂ emissions reductions, and is looking to set a target of 120 g/km of CO₂ emissions from new cars by 2012.

The CO₂ emission target of 140 g/km corresponds to an average consumption of 6 l. of gasoline or 5 l. of diesel per 100 km, while the 120 g/km level equates to 5 l./100 km of gasoline or 4.5 l./100 km of diesel.

"The 140 g/km target," said the EU, "will make a contribution of 15% towards fulfilling the greenhouse gas reduction objective assigned to the community as a whole by the Kyoto Protocol on climate change-8% in the period 2008-12 compared with 1990 emission levels."