Intense lobbying by German carmakers waters down new EU car fleet emission limits
A concerted lobbying effort by German carmakers was crucial in watering down new EU car fleet emission targets for the period after 2021, reports Süddeutsche Zeitung. “It seems a call from Germany’s chief car lobbyist, [car industry association VDA head] Matthias Wissmann, to [EU commission President] Jean-Claude Juncker’s cabinet chief Martin Selmayr, was crowned by success. Selmayr denies a connection. German EU commissioner Günther Oettinger has also acted in the interest of the car industry, says the article. “As if Dieselgate had never happened, Volkswagen in particular led a campaign against stricter environmental laws.” According to a Reuters report, the EU commission will propose today CO2 reduction targets for new cars of 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2021.
Read the SZ article in German here.
Find plenty of background in the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.
Please note: The Clean Energy Wire will publish an article on this topic later today.