6 February 2007 - Failure to adopt tough targets forcing EU car-makers to cut greenhouse gas emissions produced by their vehicles reveals chaos and inconsistency in the EU’s approach to tackling climate change, according to Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas.

She made her comments after it was reported that the EU Commission had agreed to impose a limit in CO2 emissions to 130 g/km for EU-manufactured vehicles by 2012: a higher cap than the 120 g/km originally sought by Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.

Dr Lucas, South-East England ’s MEP and a member of the European Parliament’s influential Environment Committee, said: “Today’s decision is deeply disappointing, and calls into serious question the Commission’s commitment to addressing climate change. 

“Just a month ago, the EU’s unveiled its new energy strategy to great fanfare, with claims that the EU was going to play a real global leadership role - and yet here we see it falling at the first hurdle, failing at the first test."

The 130 g/km emissions cap has reportedly been agreed after a wrangle between Environment Commissioner Dimas and other commissioners, who had warned that a tougher limit could face a veto from some member states – notably Germany – with significant car-manufacturing sectors. It will replace a failed voluntary agreement by carmakers to cut their emissions to 140g / km by 2008.

Dr Lucas added: “The voluntary approach hasn’t worked, which is why we need tough binding limits to reduce the 50 per cent of all CO2 emissions from transport which are spewed out by the EU’s fleet of cars.”

ENDS