European Union The countries reached an agreement after lengthy negotiations early Wednesday to support stricter climate rules that would eliminate carbon emissions from new cars by 2035.
The 27 EU members have reached an agreement on a draft law to reduce at least 55% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 1990, instead of the 40% previously agreed.
Frans Timmermans, European Commission Vice-President in charge of the Green Deal, said: “The council’s decisions on Fitfor55 are a huge step forward in the implementation of the EU Green Deal.” in Luxembourg.
The agreement on five laws proposed by the EU’s executive body last year paved the way for final negotiations with the European Parliament. EU lawmakers are backing ambitious targets across the bloc. The final approval of the legislative package requires Parliament to resolve differences with the bloc’s national governments on various details.
Agnes Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Energy Transition, said: “The Council is now ready to negotiate with the European Parliament on the conclusion of the bidding package, placing the European Union on the vanguard of the fight against climate change. climate change than ever before.
The decision to introduce a 100% CO2 reduction target by 2035 for new cars and trucks will prohibit the sale of new petrol or diesel cars within the 27-nation bloc.
Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group, Transport and Environment, said the EU government’s deal was “historic” as it “breaks the oil industry’s grip on transport.”
“The game of internal combustion engines in Europe is over,” the team said.
Greenpeace is more skeptical, arguing that the 2035 deadline is too late to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
The deal poses a major challenge for German carmakers, who have long depended on selling increasingly large, gas-guzzling vehicles for profit.
After fierce bargaining in the tripartite government, particularly between the pro-environment Greens and the pro-business Liberal Democrats, German officials voted in favor of a compromise overnight.
The German government says the deal will also see the Commission make a proposal to allow climate-neutral e-fuel private cars to continue to be sold beyond 2035.
Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, a member of the Greens, said: “This is a huge step forward and moves the transport industry on a climate-neutral path. By stating that only zero CO2 cars and light utility vehicles can be sold from 2035, “we are sending a clear signal that we need to meet our targets.” about climate. This gives the car industry the planning security it needs. “
The EU wants to drastically reduce emissions from transport by 2050 and promote electric cars, but a report from the bloc’s external auditors last year found the bloc was lacking proper charging stations. Transport accounts for about 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU,
In addition to the landmark auto deal, the package also includes reforms to the EU’s carbon market and the creation of a social and environmental fund to help vulnerable households cope with the energy reform scheme. clean quantity. That issue has become more politically sensitive as Russia’s war in Ukraine has sent fuel prices skyrocketing.
The common goal is to put the EU on track to become climate neutral by 2050 and push other major polluters, including the United States and China, to follow suit.
Frank Jordans of Berlin contributed to this story.
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