Officials at the European Union have said that the Commission will propose tougher CO2 limits for heavy goods vehicles, requiring new trucks to cut emissions by 90% by 2040 to help mitigate climate change.
The aim of the new proposal will be to bring the transport sector to comply with the EU’s goal to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions across its economy by 2050 as the 27 member nations last year agreed to a 2035 deadline for new cars to be CO2-free.
A draft of the proposal seen by reporters in Brussels did not specify the final target but showed the EU aimed to drive industry-wide investments in zero-emission vehicles and boost innovation.
“Initiatives at the national and local levels will not be sufficient. A lack of coordinated EU action would translate into a risk of market fragmentation,” part of the draft said.
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Although a 90% target would fall short of the zero emissions goal that the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg are clamouring for, some other EU countries have argued a 2040 zero emissions target is too early for manufacturers to meet.
Environmental campaign groups have said the EU’s aim to reach net zero emissions by that date will be thwarted as new CO2-emitting trucks registered in 2040 would still be on the road in 2050.
“Polluting trucks will continue to be sold for years longer than necessary, making the EU’s net-zero goal impossible,” said Fedor Unterlohner, freight manager at campaign group Transport & Environment.
However, the European Parliament and EU countries must negotiate and approve the rules before they come into force.
Meanwhile, Swedish truck maker AB Volvo (VOLVb.ST) started a series of production of heavy electric trucks last year and is aiming for half of its global truck deliveries to be electric by 2030.
Other routes to decarbonise trucks include switching from combustion engines to hydrogen fuel cells, although these are not expected to be available in large numbers until the second half of this decade.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
