CARS 21 says that responsibility for CO2 cuts cannot rest with auto industry alone
Mon 12 December 2005
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CARS 21 - a high level grouping of European Commissioners and industry leaders - has adopted a 10-year roadmap for a competitive EU car industry and agreed a number of recommendations to make cars cleaner and safer.
The Group has agreed that the responsibility for greenhouse gas emission reductions from the road transport sector cannot rest with the automotive industry alone and supports an integrated approach to cut emissions from the sector. The Group wants measures to ensure that objectives can be achieved in the most cost-efficient way.
The CARS 21 committee also identified a number of concrete actions, which could contribute to CO2 reductions. Their suggestions focus on issues such as vehicle technology, alternative fuels, eco-driving and gear-shift indicators, taxation, consumer information and labelling or congestion avoidance. There is a specific recommendation for attention to be given to new generation biofuels (those which can be sourced from a wider variety of feedstocks and offer significant environmental benefits).
On consumer information, CARS 21 recommends that the existing directive on fuel efficiency labelling could be improved in order to clarify the information provided to consumers. The group also suggests that there should be a harmonisation of energy efficiency labelling across the EU.
The report identifies hydrogen as a promising option as an energy carrier for the longer-term, which needs a major research and development effort.
There is also a suggestion that the Commission should bring forward proposals to reduce pollutant emissions from light and heavy duty vehicles.
In 2006 the Commission will come forward with proposals on the follow-up to the CARS 21 recommendations. There will be a mid-term review in 2009 in view of the progress made and the technological developments.
Related Links
Cars 21 - Europa page
Cars 21 - full report (download)
European Commission press release
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