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.
