The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) today decided to postpone the entry into force of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions limits for ship engines from 2016 to 2021. Environmental NGOs Transport & Environment (T&E) and Seas at Risk, founding members of the IMO observer organisation Clean Shipping Coalition, condemn IMO’s decision and now call on the EU to adopt its own NOx limits for cleaner air.
Environmental groups have today welcomed a European Parliament vote which will help cut back air pollution by significantly decreasing the amount of dirty sulphur allowed in marine fuels. The Directive on Sulphur in Marine Fuels which was tentatively agreed upon before the summer break by the European Parliament negotiators, the Commission and the Council, has just been formally adopted by an overwhelming majority of MEPs.
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Transport and Environment (T&E) have welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament on 'EURO VI' air pollution limits for new lorries and buses sold in Europe from 2012-13.
The European Parliament has voted on new vehicle emissions standards (Euro 5 /6) in a compromise deal with ministers that allows makers of gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles (SUVs) an extra three years to comply.
Mercedes-Benz has this week launched its E320 BlueTec model for sale in America. The car is the first of a new-generation of diesels that meet strict new American emissions standards and would also meet proposed European emissions standards that the European Parliament has said shouldn’t come into force before 2015.
T&E's Aat Peterse writes in today's Financial Times:
Another reason there are so few diesel cars in the US is strict air pollution standards ("Carmakers display a cleaner side of diesel", January 31). But as your article pointed out, the technology now exists to make cleaner diesel engines and several European carmakers have been showing it off at the Detroit motor show. It is strange then that the latest emissions standards for new cars proposed by the European Commission (Euro 5) do not take these technical advances into account.
European car manufacturers will soon be selling dirtier diesel cars in their home market than they export to the United States if the European Commission’s proposed 'EURO 5' emissions standards are approved.
The European Commission has begun a public consultation on their proposed 'Euro 5' emissions standard for passenger cars. The deadline for submissions sent by email is 9 September 2005. More information can be found on the Commission website.