CO₂ emissions per vehicle kilometre for passenger cars, 1995-2001

The CO₂ emissions per vehicle kilometre driven by new passenger cars sold in the EU are falling. This applies to cars made by European, Japanese and Korean manufacturers.

Changes in CO₂ emissions from passenger cars in the EU

Between 1995 and 2001, there was a fall in the CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars per vehicle kilometre. European car manufacturers achieved a reduction of 11% in this period. The objective for 2008 is a reduction in CO₂ emissions per kilometre driven of 25% compared to 1995.
Korean manufacturers reduced CO₂ emissions per kilometre by 6% between 1995 and 2001. This means they been least successful in making progress towards the objective. Between 2000 and 2001, they did manage to make considerable inroads on the rest. In this period, the Korean manufacturers achieved the same reduction as in 1995-2000.
Japanese car manufacturers, finally, reduced CO₂ emissions from their cars by 9% in 1995-2001.

Covenants with umbrella organisations of car manufacturers

The European Commission has agreed objectives with the umbrella organisations of the European, Japanese and Korean car manufacturers for the reduction of CO₂ emissions by passenger cars. These objectives have been set out in three covenants.

A CO₂ covenant was entered into in 1998 with the ACEA, the umbrella organisation of European car manufacturers. In the covenant, the ACEA undertakes to do its utmost to reduce by 25% between 1995 and 2008 the CO₂ emissions per kilometre driven by the new passenger cars its sells in the EU. In 2008, the average new European passenger car should therefore only emit 140 grams of CO₂ per kilometre driven, as compared to 185 grams per kilometre in 1995.
The European commission has entered into similar covenants with the Japanese and Korean car manufacturers of, respectively, the JAMA and KAMA. JAMA and KAMA have one more year than ACEA to achieve the objective of 140 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.

Contribution of traffic and transport to CO₂ emissions

In 2000, the traffic and transport sector accounted for approximately 25% of total CO₂ emissions by all EU member states. Passenger cars in the Netherlands account for more than 50% of CO₂ emissions by the traffic and transport sector (RIVM, 2000).

Kyoto objectives for greenhouse gases

CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas and it is considered to be responsible for the greenhouse effect that results in climate change. In 1997 in Kyoto, the EU undertook to reduce the joint emission of greenhouse gases by the EU member states to such a level that average emissions in the period 2008-2012 will be 8% lower than in 1990.

Technical note

The CO₂ emission factors for new passenger cars are determined in test conditions. It is uncertain whether these test conditions are altogether representative of average car journeys in practice. The actual emission factors may therefore be higher than those reported by the car manufacturers.

References

EU (2001). Monitoring of ACEA's, JAMA's and KAMA's Commitment on CO2 emission reduction from Passenger Cars, 2001 (link to PDF file).
EU (2000). Implementing the Community Strategy to Reduce CO2 Emissions from CarsSecond annual report on the effectiveness of the strategy (Reporting year 2000)
EU (1999). Monitoring of ACEA's, JAMA's and KAMA's Commitment on CO2 emission reduction from Passenger Cars, 1999
RIVM (2000). R.M.M van den Brink. Verkeer en vervoer in de Milieubalans 2000. RIVM (report no. 251 701 044), Bilthoven.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

Annual European Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2000 and Inventory Report 2002. Technical report no 75, EEA, 2002
EU recommendation about the ACEA covenant .
EU recommendation about the JAMA covenant.
EU recommendation about the KAMA covenant.

CO2 emissions per vehicle kilometre for passenger cars, 1995-2001

Changes in CO2 emissions from passenger cars in the EU