(Europe) Car industry to be forced to cut emissions - Press Assn./Guardian

[Eugene]

Car industry to be forced to cut emissions

Press Association
Wednesday February 7, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

A compromise deal on forcing car makers to cut exhaust pollution will be approved by the
European commission in Brussels today.

Manufacturers have failed to meet existing voluntary targets for reducing CO2 emissions,
so the commission will announce legally binding limits - however these are unlikely to be
as tough as the EU environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas, originally demanded.

The plan to set compulsory limits on CO2 emissions had looked set to be scuppered by
European car industry protests last week, but the IPCC's dramatic report on the fate of
the planet has put political pressure on Brussels to take the lead and stick to its plans.

The need for action first arose last year when it became clear that carmakers were
nowhere near reaching a voluntary target to reduce average CO2 emissions from new
cars to 140g per kilometre by 2008, and to 120g by 2012.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,,2007523,00.html

(BBC News)

Last Updated: Wednesday, 7 February 2007, 02:17 GMT

Car firms facing pollution curbs

The European Commission is proposing to force carmakers to make an 18% cut in CO2
emissions from new cars by 2012.

A spokesman said the commission was aiming for a 25% cut in car emissions overall,
with the "bulk of the effort" coming from better motor technology.

The rest of the cut is expected to be achieved by measures such as greater use
of biofuels and better tyres.

Details of the plan, which has divided the commission, are being unveiled on
Wednesday after a two-week delay.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6334327.stm