Main focus of Thursday, February 8, 2007

EU working towards lower car emissions

After a two-week delay, the European Commission has reached an agreement on future regulations for carbon dioxide emissions from new cars. The limit is now 130 grams per kilometre - 10 grams more than the originally proposed 120. Some regard the EU compromise as a step forwards in climate protection, while others see it as a step backwards and a victory for the car lobby.

Lidové noviny - Czech Republic

Martin Weiss welcomes the European Commission's initiative to cap carbon dioxide emissions from cars. "With this step Europe is making it clear that it regards global warming as a fundamental global problem... The counterarguments of the car industry are unconvincing because only the market will show whether costs will rise, as its representatives predict. Their threats to move production further eastwards in a bid to lower costs are also unconvincing. Carmakers relocate anyway if they can cut costs by doing so. This is a general pattern and has nothing to do with the new regulations for reducing emissions." (08/02/2007)

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Sydsvenskan - Sweden

"The EU should impose even tougher demands on carmakers," the newspaper writes on the subject of the emissions compromise presented by the European Commission. "Transport is the only sector of the European economy that has continually increased its carbon dioxide emissions over the past 15 years. The average car emits approximately 160 grams per kilometre, and the car industry has demonstrated little willingness to compromise or take the initiative in reducing emissions... According to the UN's most recent climate report, the likely effects of climate change are clearer now than they ever have been. This makes it even more regrettable that the EU was unable to push through its original target directives. Now the proposal must be accepted by the 27 member states - and is likely to encounter a good deal of resistance. It's particularly disappointing that Germany, which currently holds the EU presidency, is opposing the measures. This is not only damaging to the environment, but also to the car industry." (08/02/2007)

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La Tribune - France

The editorialist Aline Robert denounces car manufacturers' "irresponsible" lobbying. "It isn't easy to maintain the Kyoto objectives while certain sources of CO2 emissions don't stop growing ! ... And this is despite recommendations from the European Commission. Thus the propositions urgently need to be changed into constraints. Because European manufacturers are having trouble integrating the environment factor, unlike their Japanese competitors. The latter, led by Toyota, have transformed a cost into a marketing ploy, whereas the Europeans are still putting the blame on others for pollution - spare-parts manufacturers, petrol companies... ... By burying their heads in the sand, manufacturers are therefore placing the automobile manufacturing industry under a real risk, because it will be better to drive clean and Japanese than pollutant European !" (08/02/2007)

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Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland

Björn Sundell sees this as a victory for the car industry lobby, headed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "But in the end it's neither the carmakers nor Ms Merkel who control developments. It's the customers. Over the past few years they have demonstrated a preference for larger, heavier and safer vehicles, despite the additional cost of higher fuel consumption. Emissions will be reduced not only by EU regulations but also when car buyers start paying as much attention to the environment as they do to a car's performance." (08/02/2007)

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24 heures - Switzerland

The editorialist Bernard Bridel is happy with the European Commission's proposition. Nevertheless, he considers that "this policy that targets a single polluter will not suffice to roll back the clock. European ambition should be bigger and combine a bunch of measures ranging from increased efforts in research into and development of clean energy to policies of fiscal incentives to 'pollute less', via more attractive, even free public transport systems. In short, yes, cars should indeed be fought, but without penalising those who still need them. Is all of this just wishful thinking ? Not necessarily, when you think about how banks are now encouraging investment in sustainable development. The day when protecting the environment will be more lucrative than polluting is perhaps not so far away after all." (08/02/2007)

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