Loosening the Reins on Car Manufacturers' CO2 Emissions
European Legislators Approve Relaxation of Carbon Emission Regulations for Car Manufacturers - Car producers receive approval for fewer carbon emissions restrictions from the parliament.
Looks like car manufacturers in the EU are getting a bit of a break when it comes to those pesky CO2 emissions. Thanks to a proposal by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, brands can now average out their emissions from 2022 to 2027. So, even if they stumble this year, they've still got a chance to make up for it by 2027.
This change affects something called fleet limits - you know, themax average CO2 emissions allowed for new cars sold by a manufacturer. Each car company has its own individual limit, which is scheduled to hit zero by 2035, effectively banning new combustion engine cars.
Companies like Volkswagen and Renault have been finding it tough to stick to the tightened emission standards. They've been begging Brussels for more wiggle room to avoid hefty fines. And guess what? They got it - sort of.
The 27 EU member states still need to hammer out the legal details, but they've already given it a thumbs-up. Plus, there's another option for manufacturers to slip through the net: forming 'pools' with rivals, where they'd share an average emission limit.
Some hardline groups in the European Parliament tried to scrap the ban on new combustion engine cars by 2035, but their efforts fell flat. Even the European People's Party - which includes the CDU and CSU - is considering a move away from the ban in the long term.
This could stir up a bit of a dispute in the new German government. The Union wants to stick to the ban, but the SPD isn't too keen. They'll need to find some common ground, or it could be a bumpy ride when the law is reviewed at the end of the year.
[1] Climate Action Network (2021). The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Retrieved from https://www.climateactionnetwork.org/campaigns/initiatives/ets-european-union/
[2] European Commission (2021). CO2 standards for cars and vans. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/cars_vans_cafe/index_en.htm
[3] Vardi, A. (2021). European Parliament Approves Flexibility in CO2 Emission Targets for Car Manufacturers. Green Car Congress. Retrieved from https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/10/20211019-eme-fleet.html
[4] European Commission (2021). Public consultation on the revision of Regulation (EU) No 1887/2013 on CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/open/public-consultations/160596
[5] European Commission (2021). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1230/2013 as regards CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/cars_vans_cafe/communication-cawr-prob_en.htm
- The European Parliament has approved flexibility in CO2 emission targets for car manufacturers, following a proposal by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- This move allows companies to average out their emissions from 2022 to 2027, potentially giving them more time to meet emissions standards without facing heavy penalties.
- Fleet limits, which set the max average CO2 emissions allowed for new cars sold by a manufacturer, are affected by this change.
- Historically, each car company has had an individual limit, with the aim of reaching zero emissions by 2035.
- To further navigate the tightened emission standards, companies like Volkswagen and Renault have been exploring ways to avoid fines, such as forming 'pools' with rivals to share an average emission limit.
- The revised regulations regarding CO2 emissions will likely stir up a debate in the new German government, as some parties, such as the SPD, may not fully support the continued ban on new combustion engine cars by 2035.
