Diesel pollution summit on 2 August

The German government will organise a summit on 2 August with the aim of bundling the different community and state activities to reduce pollution from diesel vehicles at federal level, a spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) told journalists at a press conference. “Only this can guarantee a reliable and reasonable regulation”, said the spokesperson. The BMVI and the environment ministry (BMUB) have invited to the “National Forum Diesel” the premiers of states particularly affected by the emissions scandal, as well as the CEOs of VW (Audi, Porsche), BMW, Daimler, Ford, and Opel, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the German association of cities and towns, and workers’ unions. The ministry spokesperson said it was "absolutely clear" that the summit was as much "about reducing pollution of the diesel" as it was about "making the diesel future-proof. It is about reconciling economy with ecology.”

For background, see the CLEW digest from 28 June and the CLEW dossier The Energiewende and German carmakers.