Carmakers risk missing greenhouse gas targets

Carmakers are still struggling to meet a carbon dioxide emission target ahead of a 2008 deadline, according to statistics to be published by the European Commission this summer.

In 1998 the carmakers reached a voluntary deal with the EU promising to bring average CO2 emissions from new cars down to 140 grammes per kilometre (g/km) by 2008.

The latest report will show that, in 2004, European car manufacturers had made the most progress since monitoring began in 1995 but were still a long way off target.

EU car industry representatives ACEA will report an average of 161g/km for new vehicles in 2004, down from 163g/km in 2003. New Korean cars meanwhile averaged 168g/km and the Japanese managed 170g/km.

Originally pencilled in for publication this month, the Commission's annual report on progress towards the voluntary target is not now expected until after the EU executive's August recess.

Overall the report will show a 0.6% drop in emissions since 2003. "This is by far not enough," said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. "Industry needs to make much more effort."

The Commission last year estimated that ACEA needed to make a 2.8% reduction every year in order to meet the target. Japanese manufacturers would have to manage 3.1% and Korean companies 3.6%.

Transport and Environment (T&E), a green campaign group, criticised the Commission for taking so long to publish the statistics.

"It's a disgrace that the public has already had to wait almost 19 months for the official 2004 figures," said T&E Director Jos Dings. "Carmakers are failing on their commitments and the Commission seems determined to delay the bad news for as long as possible."

A study from T&E based on 2005 data painted an even blacker picture than the Commission's own analysis. The study estimated that ACEA needed to manage a 4.3% annual reduction in order to hit the 140g/km target.

"A proposal that holds carmakers legally responsible for reducing emissions is long overdue," Dings said.

A spokesman for the Commission's enterprise department said the question of binding legislation was not currently on the agenda. He added that the 140g/km target was still not out of reach: "We expect industry to deliver on the voluntary targets. This is ambitious but feasible."

ACEA said it could not comment on the latest statistics before the Commission published them. Hermann Meyer of the car industry group said ACEA remained committed to bringing emissions down to 140g/km target in time. "We will put all our efforts into meeting this target," he explained. "We have never confirmed that we will not manage."

A Commission-led working group last year warned that car manufacturers could not be expected to cut CO2emissions on their own. Meyer said ACEA would support this idea in discussions on how to proceed after the 2008 deadline.

"All stakeholders who can contribute [to reducing CO2 emissions] should contribute," he said. "The fuel industry can contribute, so can infrastructure developments, so can drivers."

He added that ACEA was also looking at fiscal incentives to cut CO2. "We are investigating the idea of a CO2-based car tax to see if that is not the best option. We will share these findings with the Commission, probably in September."

Carmakers are still struggling to meet a carbon dioxide emission target ahead of a 2008 deadline, according to statistics to be published by the European Commission this summer.

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