Air pollution: scheme to monitor the average emissions of carbon dioxide CO₂ from new passenger cars

The Commission has presented sixth annual report on the implementation of the Community strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from cars. This report addresses the 2004 monitoring and the reviews that were launched during that year.

The Community’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and improve fuel economy aims at achieving an average specific CO2 emission figure for passenger cars newly registered in the Community of 120 g CO2/km. The EU 15 average value achieved in 2004 was 163 g CO2/km23, compared to 186 g CO2/km in 1995, the reference year of the Community strategy – a reduction of about 12.4 %.

The assessments carried out show that ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association), JAMA (Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association) and KAMA (Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association) have, during the period 1998 to 2004, met all the obligations stated in their Commitments. The car industry has, in doing so, delivered a sizeable contribution to the EU strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to its Kyoto reduction objectives.

In order to meet the final target of the Commitments (140 g CO2/km) all three associations have to substantially increase their efforts. The Commission acknowledges that all three associations have reconfirmed their firm determination to make the best possible efforts to live up to their commitments.

The Commission underlines the importance for the car industry of meeting the 140 g CO2/km target which the Commission considers achievable and to which the industry has committed. It also stresses the need for continued efforts towards technical research, development and demonstration on more efficient propulsion and auxiliary systems (including mobile air conditioning) for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with a view to achieving lower costs and improved performance, including overall efficiency and durability.

The Commission has decided to carry out in 2005-2006 a review of the Community’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This review will be carried out under the framework of the European Climate Change and the Commission intends to present a Communication on a revised strategy to the European Parliament and Council in the second half of 2006.