Civil society opposes ACEA’s call to delay vehicle pollution norms – letter

Health, consumer and green groups were alarmed by these demands and wrote to the Commission opposing the harmful delay. They insisted that the pandemic cannot be used as a pretext to delay the enforcement of emissions standards that were set more than 10 years ago and the introduction of which had been spread over seven years. Moreover, the needed technology to curb emissions had long been available. Yet again weakening the enforcement of air pollution laws would not be the appropriate answer to the current health and economic crisis and would stand in stark contradiction to the letter and spirit of the European Green Deal and its zero pollution ambition, the joint letter read. Instead of weakening emission rules, there are good alternatives to support the economy and consumers while cleaning up the air Europeans breathe. In the interest of public health, consumer rights, environmental protection and fair competition, the civil society organisations asked Commissioner Breton to maintain the current timeline for emissions legislation.