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FACTBOX - Reaction to EU Proposals for Car CO2 Output |
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| INTERNATIONAL: February 9, 2007 | ||
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The European Commission proposed a strategy on Wednesday to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars as a way to combat global warming.
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Here is how manufacturers, environmentalists and government officials saw the news:
The proposals are unbalanced and damaging to the European economy in terms of wealth, employment and growth potential Today's announcement finally recognises, ten years late, that regulation is needed on CO2 emissions just as it is on safety and other forms of air pollution from cars We welcome the fact that the European Commission is sticking to its goal of 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer. This goal has never been questioned by the Chancellor (Angela Merkel) nor by the government. We also welcome the fact that the goal of 120 grams per kilometre is integrated together with biofuels. The move to the ecological car of the future is a key pillar of PSA's future...We have an advantage in low-CO2-emission cars. We will do everything we can to keep that advantage
Today's watered-down compromise on European emission standards means the German auto industry has pushed through its demands via intense lobbying. German corporate chiefs are still blocking Europe's climate policy...but the success today of the German auto lobby will turn out to be a pyrrhic victory
The announced target proposals are extremely demanding, require massive investments and confront all car manufacturers with enormous and extremely difficult challenges This is a significant technological challenge that the European automotive industry has to face. At the same time, it should recognise that these guidelines are not a job killer. On the contrary, they help secure (automakers') long-term international competitiveness
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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