• Transport must help meet EU’s climate target, say MEPs

    MEPs have called on EU governments to resurrect a proposal to link passenger car taxes to carbon dioxide emissions.

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    [mailchimp_signup][/mailchimp_signup]The call came in a non-binding resolution last month, which said the transport sector must meet the EU’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 relative to 1990 levels.

    This is the second time MEPs have said transport must meet the EU’Transport continues to be the only major industrial sector increasing its emissions.

    The resolution calls for urban congestion, which causes 40% of CO2 emissions from road transport, to be ‘tackled more ambitiously’, and for shipping emissions to come under closer watch. It also calls on the Commission to develop a system for assessing the external costs of all modes of transport when it presents proposals on internalising the unpaid-for costs of transport in June.

    A survey by the European car makers’ umbrella Acea says 14 EU members have introduced some form of CO2-related car taxation, but said some countries use only emissions, while others use car price and engine size in calculating car tax.
    • Africa and North America are to see continent-wide rallies next year for alternative-powered vehicles. The ‘Zero Rally Africa’ is being staged between Victoria Falls and Cape Town in Africa in January 2009 and is open to electric, solar, hybrid, biofuel, ethanol and hydrogen vehicles. And in September, the cross-USA ‘Progressive Automotive X Prize’ race will go from the east to west coast of the USA.