Reacting to the European Commission’s announcement of mandatory standards on vehicle emissions, Greenpeace campaigner Emily Armistead said:

"The adoption of a European emissions law for cars is welcome, but it's weaker than we'd hoped. The German motor manufacturers strong-armed the EU to water down the proposals with the kind of big business lobbying campaign we're used to seeing in Washington DC, not Brussels. German automakers have shown themselves to be carbon-dinosaurs. The next time Mercedes and BMW claim to be progressive on climate change issues they’ll be laughed out of the room."

The EU today announced plans to introduce mandatory emissions standards for vehicles. Car companies will be forced to achieve a fleet average of 130g of CO2 per kilometre for their trucks and cars by 2012 via improvements in technology. A further 10g/km saving is proposed via 'complementary measures'. At present a voluntary target of 120g/km by 2010 is in place.

The proposals have split the commission, with German industry commissioner Günter Verheugen opposing moves to set a mandatory standard of 120g/km. Intense lobbying by the German motor industry saw that plan scaled back.

Today's announcement marked the start of the process before legislation is finalised.

Emily Armistead continued:

"Now is the time for the British government to make its voice heard. We often hear cabinet ministers saying how climate change is a number one priority for New Labour. If that's true, our government will pressure the EU to adopt a stronger emissions law."

The European fleet emitted an average of 162g/km in 2005.

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Greenpeace today called on the UK government to intervene after European proposals to make cars more fuel efficient were seemingly scuppered by auto-makers. The call comes after Brussels delayed a long-expected announcement on legislation that would force manufacturers to reduce emissions from Europe's cars. Just last week the EU warned that climate change threatens the continent with heat waves and rising sea levels.

EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas had this week intended to announce new measures forcing industry to reduce emissions of European cars to an average of 120g of CO2 per kilometre by 2012. The directive would have replaced the current failing voluntary agreement to reduce emissions to 140g/km by 2008/9. All but a few European car-makers will fail to reach the non-binding target.

The postponement of the announcement comes after Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen contradicted Dimas, telling a French newspaper that there would be no binding vehicle emission standards. European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is said to be seeking a 'consensus'. There are now serious concerns that industry involvement could see mandatory emissions cuts kicked into the long grass.

Greenpeace has now written to environment minister David Milliband asking him to clearly state his support for the mandatory measures. The German environment minister has today indicated that he supports the legislation.

Greenpeace climate campaigner Emily Armistead said: "Governments across Europe, most notably in Britain, claim to be greatly concerned about climate change. Well now is the time to stand up for simple sensible measures that would make an immediate difference. When it comes to emissions from cars, the European Commission has suddenly developed an environmental blind spot. Pressure from environment ministers across the continent could make a crucial difference."

She continued:

"Only last week the EU was warning us that climate change poses a catastrophic threat to the continent, but carbon dinosaurs like Guenter Verheugen threaten to scupper real action. David Milliband should join his German counterpart and speak up now."

Transport is the fastest growing source of emissions in Europe. Department for Transport figures estimate that an average UK fleet efficiency reduction to 120g/km together with a 10% reduction in passenger kilometres could put road transport on track to meet the governments CO2 reduction target of 60% by 2050. The current voluntary agreement, supported by Guenter Verheugen and industry lobbyists, is failing. The Commissions own assessment, based on 2004 data, was that 'the situation is not satisfactory'. Data for 2005 showed that reductions amounted to just 1% since 2004. Fleet average CO2 emissions of cars sold in 2005 stood at 162 g/km. The target is 140g/km by 2008.

The Commission has always claimed that such a failure was likely to lead to binding legislation for carmakers. On January 10th this year the EU committed to reducing of a greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020.

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Greenpeace press office - 0207 865 8255