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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.

Megatrucks decision raises doubts, says MEP

Sketch of some documents (default image for news

The decision by the EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas to allow so-called ‘megatrucks’ to cross EU borders raises doubts about whether the Commission takes its role as the guardian of EU treaties seriously.

‘Diesel kills’

T&E’s French member organisation FNE has started a campaign showing that fine particle emissions from diesel engines can have deadly consequences for human health and the environment.

Airlines against obligatory biofuels

Airlines have told the Commission that making the use of biofuels in aviation obligatory would harm their competitiveness.

Higher value for tar sands fuel is WTO-compliant

The Commission has denied that changes to the EU Fuel Quality Directive will breach World Trade Organisation rules.

Potential for cutting lorry emissions

A study commissioned by the International Council on Clean Transportation says using low-resistance tyres, aerodynamic devices and lower weights can improve the fuel efficiency of lorries by between 4% and 10%.

Noise directive

The Commission has begun a consultation on whether the 2002 Environmental Noise Directive is doing its job.

First energy & CO2 railway handbook

The first railway handbook on energy consumption and CO2 emissions from the world’s railways has been published by the International Railways Union (UIC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Green change possible if people see that it works

Opinion by Dudley Curtis - T&E Communications Manager Dudley Curtis leaves T&E in August after eight years as communications manager. Here he reflects on how the campaign to force car makers to stick to a maximum average level of carbon dioxide emissions has evolved, and what this says about the chances of further environmental progress.

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