EP loosens CO2 targets despite public sense of urgency
The target of maximum CO2 emissions of 120 grams per kilometre for newly-sold vehicles will not have to met by the year 2010 but 2015, despite a recent poll showing strong support among EU citizens for reductions without delay.
The website of the European Federation for Transport & Environment states, "The poll - carried out by TNS Opinion - probed close to 5000 people in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. An overwhelming majority (87 per cent) stated that measures to reduce the fuel consumption of new cars by a quarter - equivalent to the 120g CO2/km target being discussed by MEPs - should be introduced urgently."
A few days after the poll, the European Parliament began to lean towards phasing in the 120 g/km target between 2012 and 2015.
Reuters reported the following: "'Liberal and Conservative groups in the European Parliament's influential industry committee have agreed to propose phasing in the 130g target [reducing it by another 10 grams should be achieved by other measures] to 2015,' one lawmaker said on Monday on condition of anonymity, because negotiations on other elements of the package are still underway.
"Whether the phase-in between 2012 and 2015 has majority backing from members of the committee will only be seen after voting late on Monday."
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