EU sparks row over car pollution

At the Bali environment talks last week, the EU was credited with showing leadership on the need to protect the environment as the US dragged its heels.

But a storm of criticism has erupted after its new proposals on cutting CO2 emissions were shown to have been drastically weakened after intense lobbying by European car manufacturers.

The European Commission proposals fulfil a threat to legislate if voluntary CO2 curbs were not agreed by the industry.

However, they only propose a new legally-binding maximum of 130 grams per kilometre by 2012 when emissions are already supposed to have reached 120 grams by two years ago.

The Commission has now said that the 120 gram figure could still be reached by 2012 but that manufacturers would only be responsible for reducing emissions to 130 grams.

The other 10 grams saving will come from "other technological improvements" such as better tyres with less rolling resistance and by increased use of bio-fuels.

A Commission statement said: "Cars are an important part of the everyday lives of a large number of Europeans. However, car use has significant impacts on climate change insofar as it accounts for 12% of the overall EU emissions of carbon dioxide. Consequently, the EU has committed itself to ambitious greenhouse gas reduction and energy efficiency improvement targets to which all relevant sectors of the economy should contribute."

But Green MEP Caroline Lucas said the compromise - and another announcement due on Thursday on aircraft emissions - exposed the Commission as "hypocritical".

Friends of the Earth said the EU's climate change credibility was at stake and urged politicians to put the planet's safety first and stand up to the "self-interested" car lobby.