Noise emissions from motor vehicles are regulated by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations. The European Community is a signatory, as well as individual EU Member States, meaning that UNECE vehicle regulations are directly applicable in EU and national law.
This briefing explains the long history of failure of the UNECE to deliver effective regulation for quieter vehicles and argues for the regulation of vehicle noise to be moved back to the EU level in Brussels where there is appropriate democratic oversight.
Europe must stand firm over its future targets for carmakers as it cannot afford to fall further behind China.
The decision to create a Europe-wide carbon price was right but creates significant political risk. The good news is it can still be fixed.
It's about time the EU requires parts of key products to be made locally – and nowhere is this more urgent than in the battery sector.