Share this on social media
Landmark deal for climate as EU agrees 2035 cut-off for polluting cars
(Transport and Environment, 27 Oct 2022) T&E welcomes historic agreement and says lawmakers must now accelerate other measures to bring down vehicle emissions in this decade.
Negotiators on behalf of European governments and MEPs reached agreement today on ending sales of new combustion engine cars and vans by 2035. Green group Transport & Environment (T&E) welcomed the deal which will see the EU become the largest economy to phase out sales of polluting vehicles. Cars and vans are responsible for 16% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.
Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and emobility at T&E, said: “The days of the carbon spewing, pollution belching combustion engine are finally numbered. It’s 125 years since Rudolf Diesel revolutionised engine efficiency, but lawmakers have decided the next chapter will be written by the cleaner, better electric vehicle. For the planet and human health, that can’t come fast enough.”
Under the agreement, carmakers will be required to reduce emissions of new cars sold by 55%% in 2030, compared to 2021, before reaching a 100% CO2 cut five years later. T&E said the 2025 and 2030 targets are too weak to significantly drive down emissions in this decade and called on lawmakers to improve taxation and charging policies to spur the take-up of zero-emissions cars. Subsidised leasing schemes, like the one promised by the French government, will also be needed to make electric cars more accessible.
Transport and Environment, 27 Oct 2022: Landmark deal for climate as EU agrees 2035 cut-off for polluting cars
