Long-term CO2 targets must be ambitious and scientifically-founded, not ‘political’

“En route to 2050, it is clear that further ambitious targets will need to be set,” stated Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), speaking on the eve of a vote on the 2020 CO2 reduction targets in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee. “However it is essential that any post-2020 targets are based on an independent impact assessment. They must not be purely political figures,” went on Hodac. “Unfortunately it seems that the European Parliament is moving in this direction.”

Europe currently has the vehicles with the highest environmental standards in the world, and is retaining this lead. It will only be possible to go on in this direction if the competitiveness of the industry is safeguarded. That is why the post-2020 targets must be based on a scientific evaluation of their impact, both in environmental and economic terms. As well as the fact that an impact assessment has not yet been conducted, there are also presently a number of legal and market uncertainties – in terms of what will be the lead technology in the long-term, the future regulatory regime, as well as the planned new test cycle and procedure.

Mr Hodac: “To simply set political figures with no scientific basis at this stage would be to act irresponsibly. Moreover, it would ignore the pledges made to the industry in CARS 2020, the Commission’s recent action plan for a competitive and sustainable automotive industry.” These pledges included conducting a ‘competitiveness proofing’ of all major initiatives that have a significant impact on the automotive industry.