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EU gas guzzling deal is no substitute for higher fuel duties and traffic reduction

06 Oct 1998

While welcoming the agreement, Friends of the Earth pointed out:

.    that the EU “CO2 from Cars” strategy, of which it forms part, includes a commitment for a Europe-wide agreement on motor taxation to encourage the public to buy more efficient cars. However, the European Commission has failed to publish any proposal for a tax agreement;

.    that without fuel duty increases, there is little to encourage motorists to buy the more efficient cars the industry is committed to selling;

.    that even if the fuel consumption of new cars does fall by 25%, the average consumption of the fleet will only fall by half that amount (c. 12%);

.    and that measures to reduce car use will therefore be necessary if motorists are to play their part in meeting the UK Government's commitment to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010 and the EU's Kyoto commitment to cut greenhouses gases by 8%by 2008-2012.

Roger Higman, Senior Transport Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Higher fuel duties are needed to encourage drivers to buy these more fuel efficient cars. And traffic reduction policies are needed to ensure better fuel consumption leads to cuts in emissions, not simply more traffic growth.”

ENDS

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