EU seeks mandatory car emissions curbs

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The European Commission laid out a broad new strategy to cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars on Wednesday, proposing binding limits which automakers say will threaten jobs and lead to big price increases for consumers.

The rules would require carmakers to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars to an average of 130 grams per kilometre across the fleet by 2012.

Binding legislation, to be proposed this year or early next year, would target an overall cut in average new car emissions to 120 g/km by 2012 from current levels of roughly 163 g/km.

Biofuel use, minimum efficiency requirements for air conditioners, maximum "tyre rolling resistance limits" and gear shift indicators would help contribute the 10 g/km that will not be directly required of carmakers, Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07923213.htm

[Solo_in_MD]

1. Cars are rapidly becoming the province of the wealthy in Europe

clearly some want it that way, but the loss of industrial jobs will only make social tensions worse.