The year 2035 should mark the end of sales of new combustion-engined cars in Europe. The resolution was approved by a vote of MPs at a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, this Wednesday afternoon (8). With 339 votes in favour, 249 against and 24 abstentions, they approved the proposal annexed to the so-called “Green Pact”, which aims at carbon neutrality by 2050.
The year 2035 should mark the end of sales of new combustion-engined cars in Europe. The resolution was approved by a vote of MPs at a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, this Wednesday afternoon (8). With 339 votes in favour, 249 against and 24 abstentions, they approved the proposal annexed to the so-called “Green Pact”, which aims at carbon neutrality by 2050.
The measure directly affects the automotive industry. In practice, Brussels will ban the sale of new private cars and vans that emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas, from 2035, namely all petrol, diesel, gas and hybrid vehicles.
The result of the vote can be understood as a message to European manufacturers to accelerate their transition to electric cars and as a warning to foreign companies to expand their production if they want to continue doing business in Europe.
As the first continent to set a goal of achieving climate neutrality (zero emissions) by 2050, Europe is leading the international community in identifying the first concrete measures to achieve this climate goal.
“We are charting a clear course for industry by supporting the end of combustion engines in 2035, this is an important victory in line with the goal of carbon neutrality in 2050”, as a car has run for an average of 15 years, welcomed Pascal Canfin (Renew, Liberals), Parliament’s Environmental Chairman of the Commission.
With 13 years to develop Europe’s most important industry for employment, German lawmaker Michael Bloss (The Greens) said entering the era of electric motors is “a way to protect the climate and jobs in this sector in the long run”.
Also, Alex Keynes of the NGO Transportes & Ambiente says that while “the phasing out of combustion engines is a historic opportunity to end our reliance on oil,” an increase in electric vehicle production should help keep prices down.
The right, who voted against the text, is concerned about the industrial consequences. Opponents of the bill called for consideration of the carbon emitted for automobile production and failed to pass a change that would potentially encourage the use of “synthetic fuels” that are greener than fossil fuels.
“Imposing zero emissions will condemn all industrial activity and severely penalize consumers,” says Agnès Evren (PPE). He criticizes a text that “would prevent the commercialization of high-performance hybrid vehicles or vehicles powered by biofuels” that are cheaper to manufacture and potentially emit less carbon than electric vehicles.
Cars currently account for 12% of CO2 emissions in the European Union (EU).
source: Noticias
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