Letter

Now not the time to roll back emissions rules, say big companies, cities and NGOs

April 17, 2020

In this letter, 14 groups representing major businesses, retailers, the power sector, big European cities and civil society tell the EU this is not the time to roll back Europe’s cornerstone emissions rules, such as CO₂ targets for cars, vans and trucks.

Read the joint letter

Writing to the EU Commission president von der Leyen (pictured), vice-presidents Dombrovskis and Timmermans, and transport commissioner Valean, they say workers throughout the car supply chains must remain employed as part of a green recovery in which businesses emerge from the crisis stronger and greener.

They write: “We therefore call on you to keep in place the EU’s 2020 CO₂ targets for passenger cars, commercial vehicle and heavy-duty vehicles unchanged – and assure full compliance to ensure the urgently needed investments take place and for the sake of Europe’s regulatory credibility. Rather than altering the regulation or penalties, the focus should be on economic support to ensure jobs and green investment are maintained.”

Julia Poliscanova, director of clean vehicles and emobility at T&E, said: “Governments must ensure workers throughout car supply chains remain employed, but this is not the time to roll back Europe’s cornerstone emissions rules, such as the CO₂ targets for cars, vans and trucks. Rather than altering the regulation or penalties, the focus should be on economic support to ensure jobs and green investment are maintained and demand for zero emission models continues via targeted scrappage schemes.”

The private sector signatories are members of the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative. They have committed to switching to electric transport by 2030 and want to see a faster roll out of electric vehicles.