EU split on proposals to extend carbon pricing to road transport and ban polluting cars

The proposals would effectively result in a ban on new petrol and diesel car and van sales by 2035

The revised regulation on CO2 emission standards for cars and vans, tabled in July by the European Commission, increases emissions targets to 2030 and proposes an effective ban on the sale of diesel and petrol vehicles by 2035.

At present, EU-produced cars are allowed to emit 95g of carbon per kilometre driven. The Commission wants this to be scaled back by 55% by 2030, moving to 0g in 2035.

Vans, which are permitted 147 g/km, would face a 50% reduction by 2030, but must also be zero-emission by 2035.

In addition, the Commission wants a parallel Emission Trading System (ETS) to be created for road transport and buildings, essentially putting a price on carbon emitted by these sectors, which critics say will push up the cost of transport and heating fuels.

An exchange of views held on Monday (20 December) among EU environment ministers showed varying degrees of acceptance among national governments towards the Commission proposals.

ETS extension

Among the most strident critics of the proposed ETS extension to road transport and buildings was Poland. The nation argued the carbon market would “lead to an increased burden on the most vulnerable citizens”. For this reason, the country said the expansion could not be accepted.

The impact on the poorest in society became a recurring theme in arguments against the ETS expansion, with Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania also warning that extended carbon pricing could hit living standards for low-income citizens.

“The measure would create a lot of social tensions but not much result in emissions reduction. We should not risk that the fight against climate change loses the support of the citizens,” said Hungary. Instead, the country advocates investment support over carbon pricing to facilitate the green transformation.

However, the ETS expansion proposal enjoyed broad support from northern European member states, with Germany welcoming the expansion and “beefing up” of the ETS.

Sweden hailed the ETS as a “socio-economically efficient” way for member states to reach climate neutrality, while Denmark argued expanding the ETS will provide additional revenue which can be used to address any undesirable social impacts.

Stricter CO2 standards for cars and vans

The proposals to impose more stringent emissions requirements on auto manufacturers were greeted more favourably overall but were not without critics.

Around 50,000 jobs would be lost in the Czech Republic alone if the EU moves to ban the internal combustion engine goes ahead, Prague said. Romania similarly expressed concern for the impact on the auto industry of a sales ban.

“2035 is premature [to phase out sales] for internal combustion motors because we need to make sure companies have enough time to adapt their technologies,” said Romania’s Ionut Banciu.

Several countries, including Poland and Lithuania, cautioned that banning new petrol and diesel cars would see used vehicles from higher-income countries flow into less wealthy countries, inhibiting the shift to zero-emission vehicles and reducing the climate benefit in those nations.

Italy, one of Europe’s largest automotive components manufacturers, said it is carrying out its own impact assessment on the consequences of phasing out ICE vehicles by 2035. “We are considering seriously technology neutrality and biofuels as possible transitory solutions,” said Italian environment minister Roberto Cingolani.

Conversely, a slew of member states, such as the Netherlands and Finland, argued for greater ambition, pushing for the cut-off date for the sales of polluting vehicles to be moved forward to 2030.

The Netherlands called for member states to be able to bring forward the phase-out of ICE vehicles regardless of what is agreed at EU level, while Finland urged countries to embrace the new more ambitious emissions standards and not to “get lost in the details”.

Belgium argued that ramping up emissions standards in the short term will allow manufacturers to prepare for the shift away from thermic vehicles.

The country also expressed scepticism towards synthetic fuels as a long-term solution to greening road transport.

Germany’s Patrick Graichen outlined the country’s goal of having a third of the cars on its roads – some 15 million vehicles – electric by 2030.

Whilst he called for the CO2 standards legislation to be concluded as soon as possible he stopped short of giving explicit support for the polluting vehicles sale ban, likely reflecting uncertain internal discussions among the new ruling coalition on the future role of the internal combustion engine.

European Commission response

EU climate chief Frans Timmermans acknowledged the diverging views among member states but stressed the importance of taking bold and immediate climate action.

He defended the Commission’s proposal to extend the ETS to road transport, arguing that it is one of the best policy instruments to influence behaviour, and one that industry is now familiar with.

“I believe it is an essential element of the package because if you look at where emissions are still going up, it’s in transport. And we need to do something there,” Timmermans said.

The news comes in the same week that the EU confirmed that the second half of its green finance taxonomy framework, which will set out rules for sectors including gas, will now be published in the New Year. There had been hopes of publication before Christmas after the first half was released earlier this month.

Sean Goulding Carroll, EurActiv.com

This article first appeared on EurActiv.com, an edie content partner

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe