Raül Romeva i Rueda

Trobo ben interessant, i molt positiu, que La Vanguardia destaqui la referència que Al Gore va fer ahir en la seva conferència a Barcelona en relació als efectes positius que pot tenir establir límits per a reduir la velocitat a 80km/h en les grans vies que voregen Barcelona com una de les mesures que pot permetre limitar la contaminació (tot i que només ho he vist a la versió en paper, però no en la digital). Per altra banda, avui al el Parlament Europeu, ha votat un informe (Davies) ‘sobre l’estratègia comunitària per a reduir les emissions de CO2 dels turismes i els vehicles industrials lleugers’ gràcies a un acord de la majoria de centre-dreta que ha aconseguit imposar nombroses esmenes que rebaixen molt els límits permesos en quant a emissions de CO2 per las cotxes. Adjunto la nota que el nostre grup ha tret després que en la votació votéssim en contra de l’informe final manifestament pervertit  en ser aprovades les esmenes esmentades que van en favor dels interessos de la indústria automobilística però en contra de l’interès ‘suposadament’ comú de fer front al canvi climàtic. (segueix…)

PRESS RELEASE – Strasbourg, 24 October 2007 

Car CO2 emissions

Centre-right pact to put the brakes on EU climate policy 

The European Parliament today adopted a report outlining how it believes emissions reductions from cars should be achieved and what limit values on CO2 emissions should be proposed, with a view to influencing forthcoming legislation. MEPs approved a centre-right amendment (proposed by UK Tory and Liberal MEPs) to set a weaker emissions limit for carmakers and to postpone the introduction of this limit value by a further three years (1), despite the urgent need for action. Commenting on the outcome, German Green and rapporteur for the EP Industry Committee on tackling CO2 emissions from cars Rebecca Harms said:

"Today’s result is a massive setback for overall EU climate policy. By voting for a weaker limit value for CO2 emissions from new cars and postponing the introduction of this value, MEPs have voted to put the brakes on the EU’s attempts to tackle climate change.

"It is now accepted wisdom that we have a ten year window of opportunity to act if we are to bring climate change in check, yet the report adopted today seeks to postpone binding measures for emissions reductions from one of the most polluting sectors until 2015. MEPs are rewarding the laggards in the automobile sector who have refused to honour their own commitment and reduce the emissions from their products, choosing instead to aggressively market bigger, dirtier vehicles. By the time the reductions from these limits take effect it would be too little, too late ."

Luxembourg Green MEP Claude Turmes added:

 "A study, commissioned by the Greens/EFA group and presented last week, showed that only by introducing strict limit values for passenger cars as soon as possible will the sector be able to contribute its share to enable the EU to meet an overall CO2 reduction target of even 20% by 2020 (2), let alone the 30%, which is necessary according to science. The study showed that an average CO2 emissions limit value of 120 g/km must be introduced by 2012 if cars are to contribute their share towards the EU’s overall emissions reductions and that stricter limit values for 2020 will also be necessary. We must now look outside this house to the Member States to ensure this vote is overturned and that EU climate policy does not fall at the first hurdle."

Editors notes:

(1) The European Parliament adopted the report (Davies) on EU legislative measures to reduce CO2 emissions from cars but accepted a crucial amendment from Liberal MEP Chris Davies and Conservative MEP Martin Callanan for an average limit value of 125 g/km for CO2 emissions from new cars and for the introduction to be delayed until 2015. The Environment Committee voted in September for a 120 g/km to be introduced in 2012.

(2) The study gives a comparison of the actual CO2 reductions that would be achieved through the different emissions limit values currently under debate, revealing that only with a 120 g/km limit for 2012 and a strong follow-up limit value in 2020, will necessary emissions reductions from passenger cars be achieved. The EU will have to reduce its overall emissions by around 830 million tonnes if it is to meet its base target of a 20% reduction by 2020. Given passenger cars already account for around 12% of overall EU CO2 emissions, this means the sector will have to reduce its CO2 emissions by 80-100 million tonnes. The limit values adopted by the EP would fall far short from delivering this reduction, realising a mere 49 million tonne reduction. The study and political summary can be found at the following links:

Study – http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/topics/dokbin/201/201906.climate_change_and_cars_new_study@en.pdf

Political summary – http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/topics/dokbin/201/201903.climate_change_and_cars@en.pdf

Foto: Al Gore ahir a Barcelona. Font: El Pais