Do more to cut CO2 - EU tells car manufacturers

The European Union today warned car manufacturers that it will introduce legislation to enforce cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, if the industry does not work harder to meet voluntary pollution-cutting targets.

The European Commission welcomed figures showing that European, Japanese and Korean producers had reduced CO2 emissions from new cars by an average of 12.4 per cent from 1995 to 2004.

However, it said faster reductions were needed if the industry was to meet the voluntary targets of a 25% cut by 2008 for the Europeans and 2009 for the Asian manufacturers.

“The situation is not satisfactory,” said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen in Brussels.

“We expect that the industry sticks to its commitments.”

Cuts in vehicle emissions are a key part of the EU’s strategy for cutting so-called greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

To meet its targets, the industry will need to introduce cuts of more than 3% a year from now on, the European Commission said.