European Parliament’s car emissions proposal poses crucial question for German government – NGO

The proposal by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment to tighten emissions limits for new vehicles begs for a clarification by the German government “whether it wants to protect the climate or the car industry,” environmental NGO VCD says in a press release. On 10 September, the EP committee voted for reducing the average CO₂ emissions of new vehicles by 45 percent by 2030 – a target significantly higher than the 30 percent reduction proposed by the European Commission. In 2040, new cars should have zero emissions, the committee decided. While the VCD welcomed the committee’s proposal, it said that “more ambitious regulations are necessary to meet German and European climate goals,” proposing a reduction of 60 to 70 percent by 2030. The German environment ministry (BMU) had proposed a reduction of 50 percent, which according to the VCD would be “a minimum solution from a climate perspective” that is still opposed by German transport minister Andreas Scheuer and economy and energy minister Peter Altmaier.
In a sepearate press release, German industry association BDI says the environment committee "makes things easy for itself" by merely tightening emissions limits. "In order for e-mobility to find acceptance among citizens, policymakers still have to do much more," BDI deputy director Holger Lösch said. Germany's government had to find ways to better promote low-carbon vehicles by supporting the construction of charging infrastructure, tax breaks for e-cars and more support for other alternative engine technologies, Lösch said.

Find the press release in German here.

Find background in the news piece German government struggles to find common position on new EU climate targets for cars, and the article German environment ministry pushes for tougher EU car emission rules.