Campaign demands

A 2012 target of 120g CO2/km to be met by vehicle technology measures alone
The target of 120g CO2/km was first set in the mid 90s and has already been delayed twice. The original target date of 2005 has been put back, first to 2010 and then to 2012. Further weakening by relaxing the target to be met by vehicle technology from 120g/km to 130g/km would be unacceptable. Additional measures which are not captured under the driving test-cycle (NEDC), such as better tyres and improved driving, could contribute to cutting carbon dioxide emissions but their contribution must be seen as additional to, not as part of, meeting the 120g CO2/km target.

Long-term targets of 80g CO2/km by 2020 and 65g CO2/km by 2025
Long-term targets of 80g/km by 2020 and 65g/km by 2025 should be set now. These targets are needed to provide both clarity for climate change policy and certainty for the industry. Setting long-term targets now would allow the industry time to plan, in line with their R&D and production schedules. This should also remove the possibility of a repeat of the current situation where the industry claims that the 2012 target date is too soon.

Friends of the Earth Europe and other environmental groups push for new cars to produce no more than 120g CO2/km by 2012. (Photo credit: Stefan Vandermeulen/FoE Europe)

Penalties must be set at a level to ensure compliance from the outset
The objective of the penalties is not to raise revenues from the industry but to ensure compliance, so they should be set at a level high enough to ensure they are effective. We believe that the penalties should be set at €150 per gram of CO2 exceeded per car. The full level of the penalties should apply as of 2012. Delaying or phasing-in the penalty regime is effectively postponing the policy.

Footprint rather than weight if a utility parameter is to be used
Europe should have a fleet average standard for all cars sold in a given year without distinction between classes of car. If, however, a parameter-based system is introduced, the parameter used should be footprint. We strongly disagree with the European Commission's proposal to base the CO2 standards on car weight. A weight-based system would be counterproductive in environmental and safety terms as it removes much of the incentive to make cars lighter. It would effectively penalise those carmakers that manage to produce lighter cars with a tougher CO2 standard.

We believe that making cars more energy-efficient would make a major contribution to cutting CO2 emissions from transport. However, technology alone will not deliver the scale of cuts needed to make sure that the transport sector plays its full and fair part in reducing CO2 emissions. Changes to travel behaviour will also be needed, but these should not reduce the cuts needed from technology. Making cars more energy-efficient will also reduce Europe's dependency on imported oil, much of which comes from unstable regions of the world.