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Stalemate fixing dirty diesels: Countries putting carmakers’ needs before those of citizens

This briefing outlines how, more than a year since the VW scandal broke and almost a year since the new reform of EU testing system was proposed, there is minimal progress to tackle the legacy of dirty diesel cars on the road. No action whatsoever has been taken to reduce the emissions of 80% of the most grossly emitting diesel cars. Out of the 20% of cars subject to some recalls. The briefing also outlines how the latest leaked documents reveal that the majority of member states are also trying to block and weaken any future reform on the newly proposed Type Approval Framework Regulation, stripping the Commission of any powers to do independent checks on in-use vehicles.

Published on November 29, 2016 - 10:05

Europe keeps burning more palm oil in its diesel cars and trucks

The use of palm oil for biodiesel has been increasing in the EU - 3.35 Million tonnes of it was used in 2015. Currently 46% of palm oil imported to the EU is used for biodiesel, requiring around 1 million hectares of tropical land. The three largest producers of palm oil biodiesel are Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, accounting for 80% of production.  Italy and Spain are also large users, while the Netherlands exports most of its palm biodiesel. The three countries consume 38% of what they produce, while the remaining 62% is used in the rest of the EU member states - thus making palm oil use a European issue.

Published on November 25, 2016 - 09:21

What to expect from ICAO assembly’s talks on a climate deal for aviation

Aviation is a substantial and growing driver of climate change, currently responsible for almost 5% of global warming. The objectives of the Paris Agreement cannot be achieved without action to rein in its emissions growth. This T&E briefing outlines how, at its triennial assembly, ICAO has an opportunity to adopt a global market-based measure which can be a starting point for greater global ambition. However, negotiations dominated by the need to protect industry and favour historic emitters is weakening the prospect of a credible deal.

Published on September 28, 2016 - 17:06

Analysis of the European Commission’s ‘Roadmap towards clean vehicles’

On Monday 18 March 2019, the European Commission will present and discuss with Member States, industry and civil society a “Roadmap towards clean vehicles”. This document is the first-ever EU strategy to tackle polluting diesels on the road. It is the first proposal for an integrated EU strategy to tackle the legacy of Dieselgate currently on Europe’s roads. The document has been shared with governments beforehand. T&E’s has obtained a copy of the final draft and puts in context, analyses and comments the roadmap in this briefing. This briefing outlines T&E’s main policy demands.

Published on March 18, 2019 - 12:52

Phasing-out palm oil biodiesel is compatible with WTO due to its climate and environmental impacts

In the context of the EU recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), the European co-legislators asked the Commission to develop a methodology to identify high ILUC risk biofuels with a significant expansion into high-carbon stock areas. These high ILUC risk biofuels would be frozen and then fully phased-out of the EU renewable targets by the year 2030. Some parties have raised questions regarding the compatibility of these measures with international trade rules.

Published on March 12, 2019 - 12:57

Domestic aviation fuel tax in the EU

This paper will consider the legal possibilities for imposing a tax on the fuel used in EU member states' domestic aviation. It will consider the relevant treaties and laws: the Chicago Convention, the EU ETS, the Energy Taxation Directive, and the Excise Duty Directive. It reaches the conclusion that taxation can be imposed on fuel used in domestic aviation without legal impediment. It should be noted at the outset that this question has been considered before by the UK Parliament and by Prof Eckhard Pache for the German Federal Environment Agency, both of which came to the conclusion that taxing domestic aviation fuel in the EU was perfectly legal.

Published on January 10, 2019 - 14:23

EU cars CO2 regulation and plug-in hybrid cars

The first briefing evaluates the impact of the design of the post-2020 CO2 standards for cars on the evolution of the zero and low emission (ZLEV) market in Europe and particularly plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEVs). The second one updates a previous analysis (published in August 2018) summarising how carmakers can manipulate future WLTP tests, and presents a detailed solution to stop test manipulation using fuel consumption meters.   

Published on November 28, 2018 - 09:54

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