Germany Pushes to Weaken EU CO2 Targets to Protect Combustion Engines
The German federal government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and supported by CSU leader Markus Söder, is actively lobbying in Brussels to significantly weaken European Union CO2 emission targets for new vehicles. Berlin aims to prevent a total ban on combustion engines by 2035, arguing that maintaining this technology is crucial to avoid ceding the automotive market to China. The coalition proposes three key changes: reducing the required CO2 cut to 90 percent instead of 100 percent, counting vehicles using renewable fuels as zero-emission, and allowing manufacturers to meet targets based on a three-year average rather than annually. While the European Commission has already suggested a 90 percent target, the German auto industry association (VDA) and ACEA are pushing for an even lower 80 percent baseline with additional offsets. This stance faces strong opposition from the Greens and Social Democrats, who criticize the move as detrimental to climate goals. Despite internal political friction, Berlin remains determined to secure these concessions, believing it has good prospects for success in upcoming EU negotiations.
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Germany Pushes to Weaken EU CO2 Targets to Protect Combustion Engines
The German federal government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and supported by CSU leader Markus Söder, is actively lobbying in Brussels to significantly weaken European Union CO2 emission targets for new vehicles. Berlin aims to prevent a total ban on combustion engines by 2035, arguing that maintaining this technology is crucial to avoid ceding the automotive market to China. The coalition proposes three key changes: reducing the required CO2 cut to 90 percent instead of 100 percent, counting vehicles using renewable fuels as zero-emission, and allowing manufacturers to meet targets based on a three-year average rather than annually. While the European Commission has already suggested a 90 percent target, the German auto industry association (VDA) and ACEA are pushing for an even lower 80 percent baseline with additional offsets. This stance faces strong opposition from the Greens and Social Democrats, who criticize the move as detrimental to climate goals. Despite internal political friction, Berlin remains determined to secure these concessions, believing it has good prospects for success in upcoming EU negotiations.
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