European automobile industry contributes to COP21 climate discussions

Brussels, 26 November 2015 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) today issued its position on how to address the challenges of climate change ahead of the COP21 climate conference, which will be starting in Paris next week.
ACEA welcomes COP21 as a historic opportunity to establish a policy framework that allows Europe to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, while generating jobs and economic growth.
ACEA reaffirms the automobile industry’s commitment to further reducing CO2 emissions from both vehicles and production processes. “At the same time, it is obvious that a more ‘comprehensive’ approach is necessary to address all the aspects that affect emissions during the use phase of a vehicle,” Erik Jonnaert, ACEA Secretary General explained. Such an approach seeks to reduce CO2 emissions more effectively by drawing on a full spectrum of solutions, whether this relates to the vehicle itself, alternative powertrains, faster fleet renewal, intelligent transport systems (ITS), improving infrastructure, decarbonising fuels, or altering driver behaviour. The need for a comprehensive approach to further reduce CO2 emissions from road transport should be reflected in the EU’s implementation of the COP21 agreement.
ACEA expresses the hope that the outcome of the climate negotiations forms the basis of a new long-term and predictable policy framework. Policy makers should also ensure that the COP21 talks result in equivalent conditions for all major emitting economies and industrial sectors around the world, recommends ACEA.
Jonnaert: “Only a level playing field between countries, as well as industrial sectors, will allow the EU automotive industry to make the long-term investments that are necessary to tackle the climate change challenge.”
Notes for editors
ACEA’s position paper, ‘The COP21 Climate Conference’, can be found online at: http://www.acea.be/publications/article/position-paper-the-cop21-climate-change-conference
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total