Cars and CO2 | Transport & Environment

Cars and CO2

Blue car illustration with co2 clouds around it

One of the most important steps Europe can take to save drivers money, combat climate change, and create high tech jobs is to require carmakers to produce more efficient vehicles. In 2008, the EU set legally-binding CO2 standards for the first time. They say cars sold in Europe in 2015 should emit 130 grammes of CO2 per kilometre on average, and those sold in 2020, 95 grammes. In July 2012, the Commission adopted a proposal for a midterm revision of such emission targets, confirming the 2020 limit of 95 grammes of CO2 per km. We want the EU to set future standards for fuel efficiency and to ensure that car buyers can rely on the fuel consumption figures stated by carmakers.

What's happening?

In 2008, the EU set legally-binding targets for new cars to emit 130 grammes of CO2 per km by 2015 and 95g in 2020. In July 2012 the European Commission put forward a proposal on how the 2020 target should be met. Read the T&E press release and FAQ to know more about the proposed revision of the current legislation and on why the Commission text is a step in the right direction but could have gone much further.

The Commission draft proposal, before becoming law, needs approval by the Parliament and Council, which have the opportunity to improve it and to set a stricter CO2 emissions' target for 2020 and a new and even more stringent limit for 2025.