EU vehicle emissions target divides automakers and environmentalists

The European Union has agreed a target that will require carmakers to reduce the carbon emissions of new vehicles they sell in Europe by 15% in 2025, and by 37.5% in 2030 compared to 2021 levels.

The EU had originally proposed a 30% reduction rate for cars and vans, with the Parliament seeking 40%.

The deal was largely welcomed by environmental campaigners, including the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), though concerns remain about its alignment with the Paris Agreement. Cars and vans represent nearly two thirds of transport emissions in Europe and T&E has found that the new regulation, along with the anticipated truck standard, will deliver just 38% of necessary emissions cuts. This means that national governments will have to take measures to reduce vehicle use.

‘This regulation is a good deal for citizens: reducing fuel costs for drivers, creating over 200,000 jobs and reducing our dependence on imported oil,’ says Greg Archer, Clean Vehicles Director at T&E. ‘However, carmakers’ successful scuppering of more ambitious targets means governments will now need to do a lot more at national level to bring down transport emissions.’

Meanwhile, the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA) – the industry’s largest EU lobbying group – has claimed that the target is aggressive and fails to take technological and socio-economic challenges into account. 

‘All our member companies will continue to invest in their portfolios of alternatively-powered cars and vans,’ says ACEA Secretary General, Erik Jonnaert. ‘But there are still several obstacles putting the brakes on widespread consumer acceptance, such as affordability and the lack of a sufficiently dense network of recharging and refuelling infrastructure.’

The organisation also warned that the deal would have a ‘seismic impact’ on jobs across the European automotive sector and called for policymakers to present concrete plans for a skills transition. However, the European Commission has argued that the target will help to support the long-term competitiveness of European industry and spur the necessary investment in low-carbon transport technologies.