EU rules car CO2 emissions must reduce by 37.5% within 11 years

European car industry calls CO2 target “unrealistic”, while activists say cutback won’t be “fast enough to hit our climate goals”

Exhaust emissions

Car makers and environmentalists alike have reacted with scorn to a European Union ruling that fleet-average new-car CO2 emissions must reduce by 37.5 per cent by 2030.

The target is to be measured against 2021 levels, a point at which new cars must emit no more than 95g/km on average. If approved by the European Parliament, this means the average new car will need to emit just under 60g/km of CO2 by 2030.

• New real-world mpg and emissions tests introduced

The amount by how which new car CO2 emissions should reduce has long been a contentious issue among Brussels bureaucrats. The European Parliament initially wanted to cut them by 40 per cent, while the EU Executive initially considered a 30 per cent reduction would be sufficient.

If a good compromise is one that creates dissatisfaction on both sides, however, the 37.5 per cent target settled on by the EU would appear to be well-judged. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said a 37.5 per cent reduction “might sound plausible, but is totally unrealistic based on where we stand today”. The ACEA also warned the targets “will have a seismic impact on jobs”.

Greg Archer, from the lobbying group Transport & Environment, however, said the targets represent “progress”, but warned “it's not fast enough to hit our climate goals."

• Euro 6 emissions standards: what they mean for you

The 37.5 per cent new-car reduction is part of a wider push to lower overall greenhouse gases by 40 per cent by 2030. And, while cars will have to lower their CO2 emissions by 37.7 per cent, vans will only be required to post a 31 per cent reduction. Both cars and vans will also face an interim reduction target of 15 per cent by 2025.

The targets are still need to be approved by the European Council and voted for by European Parliament, but reports indicate individual countries’ ambassadors may give them approval before Christmas.

Click here for our list of the best low emissions cars...

Most Popular

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed
Dacia Duster - front
News

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed

Dacia has taken the wraps off the latest Duster, which arrives with a new look and fresh technology
29 Nov 2023
New Dacia Duster Commercial 2023 review: a cheap, but extremely capable small van
Dacia Duster Commercial -  front tracking
Road tests

New Dacia Duster Commercial 2023 review: a cheap, but extremely capable small van

Dacia’s no-frills approach to budget motoring lends itself to the commercial vehicle genre, making the Duster Commercial an appealing option
28 Nov 2023
New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash
BMW Neue Klasse SUV exclusive image - front
News

New BMW X3 replacement to grow in size and feature a minimalist dash

BMW’s first Neue Klasse electric SUV could carry the iX3 nameplate and our exclusive images preview how it might look
30 Nov 2023