Carmakers table new CO2 offer

Date: 12/03/1998

By Simon Coss

HOPES are rising that Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard will not have to impose tough carbon dioxide emissions targets on EU carmakers following a new offer from the industry.

Renewed optimism has been fuelled by the plans presented to the Danish Commissioner this week for a voluntary scheme to cut emissions, which sources close to Bjerregaard described as “much more acceptable” than earlier offers.

Bjerregaard warned late last year that new regulations would be imposed on the auto industry if it failed to come forward with a serious proposal to meet the Union's emissions targets before this month's meeting of EU environment ministers.

The Union has pledged to ensure that new cars consume an average of just five litres of petrol per 100 kilometres and produce only 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2010. This week's offer from the carmakers would mean a reduction to 140g/km by 2008.

“The car industry was always expected to make a significant contribution to achieving the overall target, but we never said they had to do everything,” said one Bjerregaard aide.

Experts warn that the carmakers may not be out of the woods yet. “The devil is often in the detail with this sort of offer,” said one.