European and Asian auto makers must do more to meet voluntary targets to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars or face possible legislative action, the European Union’s executive arm said on Tuesday.
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According to Reuters, the European Commission said average CO2 emissions from new cars in the 15 “old” EU member states in 2004 were down 12.4% from 1995 levels, far off the target of a roughly 25% cut by 2008/09.
“The situation is not satisfactory. I urge industry to step up their efforts,” Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen reportedly said in a statement.
The 2004 figures showed a slight improvement from 2003, when new car emissions were down 11.8% from 1995 levels, the report noted.
European car makers have agreed to reduce C02 emissions from new cars to an average of 140 g/km by 2008, while Japanese and Korean manufacturers have agreed to meet that goal by 2009. The target represents a cut of around 25% from 1995 levels, Reuters said.
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By GlobalDataVerheugen and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in the statement they would consider taking legislative measures if auto makers did not meet those commitments.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association pledged to keep working on the problem but described consumer demand for “safer and larger cars” as having a counterproductive effect on reducing car pollution.
It called on policy makers to create tax incentives to prod consumers to buy less-polluting cars, Reuters added.
