Press releases

European Parliament vote on fuel taxes: reaction from Transport & Environment

Brussels - Fuel tax havens such as Luxembourg and Spain may have to raise their low diesel taxes following a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this afternoon on a proposal to revise the EU’s Energy Tax law. Commenting on the outcome of the vote, Magnus Nilsson, senior campaigner at T&E said: “This vote is good news for countries like Portugal, Belgium, France and Germany who currently lose billions in tax revenue as a result of lorries filling up in fuel tax havens such as Luxembourg and Spain. Lower diesel taxes are bad for the climate and force governments to find cash elsewhere, such as by raising job-killing labour taxes. ”
Submitted on April 19, 2012 - 13:32
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Study debunks oil industry claim that new fuel law would kill refineries

The oil industry’s claim that a new EU law designed to cut emissions from petrol and diesel production would impose a ‘disproportionate administrative burden’ has been debunked by a new report (1). A study carried out by three consultancies (CE Delft, Carbon Matters and Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands) found that the administrative and reporting costs of new implementing rules for the EU’s Fuel Quality Directive would costs drivers less than half a cent on an average fill-up, or around 1 cent on a barrel of crude oil. Transport & Environment is calling for EU Member States to press ahead with approving the new rules without further delay.
Submitted on April 19, 2012 - 00:00
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U.S. airlines give up legal fight against EU anti-pollution law

United, American Airlines, and their trade association, Airlines for America, gave up on a lost cause, a late and ill-conceived legal challenge to the European Union’s landmark law limiting global warming pollution from aviation.
Submitted on March 28, 2012 - 14:50
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Commission backs away from allowing megatrucks

The European Commissioner’s top transport official appeared to back away from plans to allow megatrucks to travel freely across European national borders at a stormy meeting yesterday afternoon of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee. Transport & Environment says the EU should scrap plans to boost longer and heavier lorries, and instead propose changes that would allow future lorries to be more aerodynamic and safer but without changing the length or weight of the load space.
Submitted on March 27, 2012 - 11:32
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New study shows huge environmental & economic benefits of slowing down shipping

Speed controls on shipping could save billions in lower ship fuel bills, cut air pollution and enable the shipping industry to play a full part in tackling climate change according to a new report.
Submitted on February 28, 2012 - 00:01
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Polar protection on ice

The polar waters of the Arctic and Antarctic are in jeopardy as a result of substantial delays to the development of environmental protection rules which will reduce the impact of shipping on these delicate regions. Last week the International Maritime Organization (1) shelved the development of environmental protection rules until 2013.

Submitted on February 27, 2012 - 11:24
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Decision on dirty fuels law to be taken by Environment Ministers

A key meeting on the future of the EU’s plan to cut carbon emissions from transport fuel production reached no agreement today. A decision on carbon emissions values for highly polluting sources of fuel such as tar sands and coal-to-liquid will now be taken by Environment Ministers in the Summer.
Submitted on February 23, 2012 - 13:23
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European Parliament backs cleaner ship fuels

Environmental groups have welcomed the outcome of a key vote today in the European Parliament on the sulphur content of ship fuels.
Submitted on February 16, 2012 - 13:24
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Eight Nobel laureates join forces in EU climate push

Eight Nobel Peace Prize laureates have written to European Heads of State and Ministers of the Environment urging them to tackle the most climate polluting sources of transport fuel, notably tar sands.
Submitted on February 16, 2012 - 10:07
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- Fuels
- Climate Change and Energy
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Suspension of EU-ETS ‘out of the question’, says top EU climate official

Europe’s top climate official, Jos Delbeke has said Europe will ‘not accept’ retaliatory action against the inclusion of aviation emissions in Europe’s ETS scheme.
Submitted on February 8, 2012 - 13:48
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Press releaseRead more about Suspension of EU-ETS ‘out of the question’, says top EU climate official