European CO2 Consultation
Transport Secretary launches car CO2 consultation.
Transport Sectretary Ruth Kelly has launched a consultation on EU Commission proposals to introduce compulsary targets of 130g CO2/km for new cars by the year 2012.
It is proposed that each european car manufacturer should reach a fleet average of 130g/km of CO2 for all cars produced by 2012, a move which should encourage manufacturers to invest and utilise technilogy that will improve fuel efficiency and is seen as an imprtant step in tackling climate change.
The government is also urging the european union to accept an increased target of 100g/km by 2020 and it states that this would result in a reduction of CO2 emissions from the sale of new cars by an additional 5 million tonnes by the year 2020. This would be over and above the six million tonnes already being eradicated by the 2012 target and would in turn save motorists an average of £500 in running costs by 2020.
The consultation formally closes on 3 October but those who wish to respond are urged to do so as soon as possible.
The Government also wants to avoid the regulation creating competitive imbalance between different types of car manufacturers and welcomes provisions in the EU proposals for setting different targets for manufacturers producing small numbers of cars.
A provision in the regulation for niche manufacturers who produce a narrow range of cars is also being urged by the UK.
