Brussels, 12 May 2022 – Yesterday, the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) voted on the CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans.
As a core result, the committee confirmed the EU fleet-wide CO2 emission reduction targets of 100% for new passenger cars and vans in 2035, as proposed by the European Commission.
While recognizing the decision to ask for a common EU methodology by the Commission, by 2023, for assessing the full life cycle of CO2 emissions of cars and vans, NGVA Europe strongly regrets that the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee is continuing to address the 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target only through a ’zero tailpipe’ approach. This prevents creating a real technology neutral framework where all available solutions, including biomethane fuelled vehicles, could increasingly contribute to the decarbonization process, complementing electrification, immediately.
A viable, practical regulatory solution to fully recognize their role in the EU CO2 standards for road vehicles was already on the table: that is the crediting scheme for renewable fuels. The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee recently voted in favour of this approach. It is regrettable that the ENVI Committee didn’t follow their opinion. A missed key opportunity.
Now, the European Council has to take position on this topic. NGVA Europe urges on Member States to be pragmatic and not miss this chance to quickly and cost effectively achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the road transport sector.
NGVA Europe’s President Dr Timm Kehler commented:
“We strongly regret that the European Parliament is continuing to address the greenhouse gas emissions target only through a ’zero tailpipe’ approach. With this, it seemingly incentivises electromobility as the only solution, while others, including biomethane fuelled vehicles, will not be able to play their necessary role to achieving carbon neutrality. We hope to see a real technology neutral approach and assessment when discussing heavy duty vehicles later this year.”
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