Ireland 6th lowest for new car CO2 emissions

Ireland had the sixth-lowest carbon dioxide emissions from new cars in Europe last year.

According to a study by the European Federation for Transport and Environment, the Netherlands had the lowest CO2 emissions from new cars in 2013, followed by Greece, Portugal, Denmark, France, and Ireland.

The study found that Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, and Austria had the highest CO2 emissions from new cars and the weakest national tax policies.

The Netherlands also had the second-best overall reduction across Europe, at 30.4%, since the introduction of binding CO2 limits for new cars in 2008.

It also has the largest proportion of electric cars in its fleet at 5.3% — a full 5% more than any other country in the EU.

Ireland comes in in sixth place for emissions from new cars and has the fourth-best overall reduction in CO2 emissions since 2008, at 23%.

The study found that countries with the lowest levels of CO2 from new cars tend to have registration and company car taxes that are strongly graded according to carbon emissions and have the greatest influence on car buyers’ choices.

The lowest emissions were found in countries with the lowest share of diesel cars (Netherlands, Denmark, and Japan), which, the report claims, dispels “the myth” that a higher number of diesel cars in the fleet is required to achieve CO2 laws.

Cork is planning on becoming the “electric car capital of Ireland” through the Drive4Zero pilot project.

The scheme will see free parking for electric vehicles, a doubling of the number of public charge points, grant aid to fund the installation of home charge points, and attractive car finance deals, among a raft of incentives.