One third of the poor air quality and CO2 emissions from transport in Europe are caused by trucks and buses. The EU states want new vehicles to be allowed to emit significantly less CO2 in the future.
New trucks and buses in the EU should be allowed to emit significantly less climate-damaging CO2. On Monday evening in Luxembourg, the EU states spoke out in favor of correspondingly stricter requirements, as the Council of EU states announced. According to the Federal Environment Ministry, this is about a reduction of 90 percent by 2040. An interim target of 45 percent is planned for 2030. The EU states are largely following a proposal from the EU Commission.
At the same time, the scope of application of the regulation will be expanded. In the future it should also apply to buses and smaller trucks. New city buses should be 85 percent emission-free by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035.
Significantly accelerate the expansion of e-mobility
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke welcomed the decision. “Today we campaigned for the health of people in Europe and for climate protection,” she said at the conclusion of negotiations in the EU Environment Council. Trucks and buses are responsible for a third of CO2 emissions from road traffic across Europe and pollute air quality, said the Green politician.
The decision will significantly accelerate the expansion of electromobility for trucks and buses. The federal government wants to ensure that the details of the project are agreed with the EU Parliament before the European elections in the middle of next year. A final compromise still needs to be negotiated with the MPs.
At their meeting, the EU environment ministers also agreed on a common position for the world climate conference in Dubai at the end of the year. The European Union will work for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, it said in a statement.