A long marathon, then the white smoke. The EU environment ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, have reached an agreement for the maxi measure on the climate – the so-called Fit for 55 – which provides, among other things, to stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2035 with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 100% for new vehicles. By this date, therefore, the combustion engines replaced by electric ones will be out of the market. Presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, the package – which also includes other measures – will allow the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality. in 2050.
At the request of countries including Germany and Italy, the European ministers of the environment have also decided to consider a future green light for the use of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or plug-in hybrids if they can achieve the complete elimination of emissions. of greenhouse gases. Green light also for the five-year extension of the exemption from CO2 obligations granted to so-called “niche” producers, ie those that produce less than 10,000 vehicles per year, until the end of 2035. The Motor Valley saving clause will support in especially the luxury brands. “This is a great challenge for our automotive industry,” acknowledged French Minister for Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who chaired tonight’s meeting. “It is a necessity – she explained – in the face of competition from China and the United States, which have bet a lot on electric vehicles”. In addition to the new standards for cars and vans, member states “have adopted a common position” on other key points, in particular on the EU emissions trading system. “The European governments have made the historic decision to end the sale of polluting cars and vans. Today is a huge step forward in the fight against climate change »says Veronica Aneris, director of Transport & Environment Italia.