“Diesel driving bans harm the environment”
Inner-city driving bans for diesel cars threaten the economy, consumer interests and even the environment, writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) in a long, front-page article. Diesel cars emit up to 20 percent less CO₂ than petrol cars and thus make an “invaluable contribution in the fight against global climate change,” writes FAS. If driving bans were introduced, Germany would miss its emissions targets, diesel cars would quickly lose their value, and it would cut into the heart of the German auto industry, writes FAS. Solutions like London’s congestion charge or converting bus and taxi fleets would need more time than allowed by impending bans.
For background, see the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.