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Monitoring is not tackling! Environmental groups criticise lack of Commission progress to reduce shipping emissions

Environmental groups have criticised a long-awaited Commission announcement on greenhouse gases from shipping. A coalition of NGOs headed by T&E has welcomed forthcoming measures to monitor emissions from maritime transport, but says they should not mask the fact that the EU is taking no action to cut such emissions, despite the presence of numerous cost-effective options for doing so.

Safer and more aerodynamic lorries on the way

The Commission has given a hint of its forthcoming draft directive on weights and dimensions that will be published early next year. It says the guiding principle behind it will be fuel efficiency, and T&E has welcomed what is likely to be a boost for lorries that are safer and cleaner.

Finally the recognition – but still lots of difficult questions

Opinion by Jos Dings - T&E directorAfter almost two years of delay, it now seems that the European Commission is indeed going to do something about indirect land-use change caused by growing crops for biofuels. And a delay it has been. Faithful readers of the Bulletin must have noted our regular coverage of the true avalanche of reports, studies and positions by generally very cautious bodies like the OECD and the FAO, pointing out the big risks and dangers of biofuels if handled without proper care.

Leaked Commission proposal recognises flaws in biofuels targets

The Commission seems ready to accept that setting a general target for the use of biofuels in transport is not going to help reduce greenhouse gases. Its long-awaited proposal on indirect land-use change caused by growing biofuel crops was leaked earlier this month. Although still subject to change, the draft says the Commission believes biofuels should only be subsidised after 2020 ‘if they lead to substantial greenhouse gas savings … and are not produced from crops used for food and feed’.

Traffic noise ‘compromise’ written by Porsche

An attempt to find a compromise on updating noise limits for vehicles has been postponed after it became clear the draft text put forward in the European Parliament had been written by Porsche. The amendment would have weakened existing standards that have been in force for 15 years.

Can Europe breathe a little easier with lower-sulphur shipping fuels?

A significant step towards reducing air pollution from ships has moved closer following a vote by MEPs earlier this month to reduce the amount of sulphur allowed in marine fuels. Environmental groups have welcomed the vote, but say it needs to be the first in a programme of action to reduce harmful emissions from ships.

Stricter CO2 standards needed or Europe won’t be able to compete

The Obama administration has finalised new rules to improve fuel economy for American car makers. They are expected to transform US cars and light trucks and lead to the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by 2025. The move threatens to leave Europe’s car industry at a competitive disadvantage unless stricter CO2 emissions targets are agreed for 2020 and beyond.

95g already being achieved

A total of 30 car models on the German market have CO2 emissions below 95g, the proposed maximum for 2020. That is one of the findings of the 2012 car-environment ranking produced by T&E’s German member VCD.

Commission confirms car and van emissions limits for 2020

The European Commission has published proposals that will confirm carbon dioxide limits for new cars and vans for the year 2020 in a review of existing laws. The proposed legislation, released on 11 July, indicates that the average new car should emit no more than 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre, and the average new van 147 g/km by 2020. T&E has welcomed the proposals but says a lot more could have been achieved if the Commission had shown more ambition, for example by setting a target of 80g for 2020 and 60g for 2025.

Breakthrough on efforts to reduce emissions from aircraft

Icao proposes ‘metric’ but NGOs still worried whether work will have a real impactEfforts to tackle emissions from aviation have taken a hesitant step forward, with the news that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) has endorsed an expert group’s recommendation on the way to measure fuel burn in flight. The recommendation is for a ‘metric’ system and test cycle to be the basis for setting fuel efficiency standards for new aircraft, but many concerns remain.

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