Transport & Environment

Threat to EU tyre safety rules could cost lives

The EU risks endangering road safety and creating additional carbon dioxide emissions following calls to weaken the technical details of new EU rules for car tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). EU member state officials will meet with the European Commission on Tuesday to discuss whether to approve weaker standards backed by the global car industry with the support of some Member State governments led by Germany and current EU Presidency holder, Sweden.

Concerns on effectiveness of tyre label scheme

MEPs, the Commission and officials of member states have agreed a labelling scheme for new tyres that T&E says is a step forward but much will now depend on national authorities being strict on implementing the scheme.

Finance ministers hold back progress on aviation and shipping climate talks

The idea that December�s Copenhagen climate change summit should set specific greenhouse gas reduction targets for aviation and shipping has made only modest progress at the latest round of UN preparatory talks held in Bangkok earlier this month.

EU members failing their citizens over air quality

Barely half the EU�s member states will meet the pollution reduction targets set for 2010 in the EU�s national emissions ceilings directive.

EU punctures tyre efficiency label plan

Sustainable transport campaigners and consumer groups have jointly criticised a last-minute EU deal on a new energy efficiency, safety and noise label for vehicle tyres. The latest legal text, set to be finalised on Thursday, would effectively turn the scheme into a voluntary programme, with no clear rules on how or where the labels should be displayed.

Commission drive to limit CO2 from vans

The Commission is expected to act this month to close a gap in EU legislation by limiting carbon dioxide emissions from road transport. It is putting the final touches to proposals to tighten environmental standards for vans and light trucks, but the car makers� lobby is fighting to get the proposals weakened, while environmental groups fear that some large cars could be reclassified as small trucks to allow the makers to be less strict about emissions.

EC checks aviation ETS calculations are robust

The maximum carbon emissions that aircraft using EU airports will be allowed to emit from 2012 is still unclear, as the process of working out aviation�s entry into the EU�s Emissions Trading System (ETS) has fallen a little behind schedule.

Widely differing views on land use threaten effectiveness of biofuels

The concept of indirect land-use change (ILUC) caused by biofuel production looks like playing a complicated role in the EU�s rules relating to the use of biofuels across Europe.

�Catastrophic� energy crisis looming

The urgency of promoting the right fuels (instead of biofuels) has been highlighted by a report from Greenpeace and a warning from the International Energy Agency.

Criminals undermine, and profit from, car scrappage scheme

Reports from Germany suggest the environmental element of the car �scrappage� scheme has backfired, as many of the cars that were supposed to be scrapped have been bought by criminals and sold to countries outside the EU.

Carmakers taking us for a ride?

Jos Dings writes in today's European Voice: There was something rather predictable about the response of vehicle manufacturers to news that the EU will propose fuel efficiency standards for vans and light trucks this month or in early October.

French join growing club of nations with distance-based lorry charge

France is set to become the fifth EU member to introduce a nationwide heavy goods vehicle charge. But late concessions and a provision for �earmarking� revenues have dampened environmental campaigners� enthusiasm for the scheme.

Commission relies on tyre fitters to give emissions and noise advice

The Commission has rejected several suggestions by MEPs to make the forthcoming revised EU law on tyre labelling easier for the public to understand.

81% opposed to bigger lorries

A French environmental NGO has launched a petition calling for �mega-trucks� to be banned from France�s roads, following a poll that showed 81% opposition to the longer and heavier lorries.

Shipping negotiations may sink global climate ambition

A meeting in London next week will be the last chance for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to set out how it plans to meet its responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol to control and reduce emissions from international shipping, before the crucial UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

Commission's 'future of transport' strategy needs a reality check says T&E

The European Commission has published its vision for the future of transport policy in the European Union. But the paper completely underestimates the challenges and proposes no concrete solutions, according to Transport and Environment.

Transport set for greater EC attention as emissions again hold back EU action

Hints that transport will be targeted by the new Commission in its next stage of reducing greenhouse gases have been dropped by three leading officials.

Industry and NGOs say Icao has lost control

Representatives of 15 governments have agreed a 'programme of action' that recommends a 'global aspirational goal' of cutting 2% per year in fuel consumption from international aircraft. NGOs say it is effectively a decision to do nothing.

Obama shepherds deal with car makers to improve fuel efficiency of US vehicles

The US president Barack Obama has launched a plan to regulate vehicle emissions in America from 2012 which has the agreement of leading car makers.

New studies cast more doubt on �mega-trucks�

The introduction of longer and heavier lorries on European roads would lead to an increase in CO2 emissions from freight transport according to a new study by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany.