NEWS: 40% C02 reduction target for Europe by 2030

European Union lawmakers have voted today for car makers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030, and by 20% by 2025.

The European Commission is taking a further initiative to reduce CO2 emissions after previously legislating that a 30% reduction must be achieved by 2021. The targets are for a manufacturer's fleet average, calculated across all the models they sell. The stringent targets will effectively allow them to put a major emphasis on zero emission cars such as electric vehicles. 

The EU said these targets can be met through an accelerated pick-up of EVs, and that new car with CO2 emissions of 50g/km or less must make up 20% of sales by 2025 and 35% by 2030. 

A previous fleet average target of 66g/km by 2030 was widely criticised by the car industry and described by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) as "Aggressive when we consider the low and fragmented market penetration of alternatively powered vehicles across Europe to date". 

Rapporteur of today's EU vote, Miriam Dalli, said: "Achieving the European Parliament's support for a 40% CO2 emissions target by 2030 was no mean feat and I am proud of the successful result achieved. Equally important is the 20% emissions target for 2025.

The targets are particularly challenging because of the recent introduction of the tougher WLTP emissions test procedure, which means that car firms have had to cut real-world emissions simply to achieve the same fleet average as under the old NEDC test.

CO2 from road transport is the only sector across the continent where greenhouse gas emissions are rising – it is of particular concern for lawmakers. This has been compounded by a growing number of cars on the road and the public backlash against diesel, with a rising percentage of petrol car registrations contributing to increased CO2 emissions. 

A total of 389 MEPs to 239 voted in favour of the legislation, which has been met with scepticism from ACEA. "We remain particularly concerned about the extremely aggressive CO2 reduction targets and the imposition of sales quotas for battery-electric vehicles that MEPs have backed," said secretary-general Erik Jonnaert.