Publication - April 23, 2013
Brussels – In advance of this week’s vote in the European Parliament environment committee on the car CO2 emission standards, Greenpeace is today releasing a briefing and infographic on the effect that so-called supercredits would have on the system. The car industry has convinced a number of decision-makers, including many of the Euro-parliamentarians voting today, to support supercredits.
Drawing from a recent study from Ricardo-AEA (jointly commissioned by Greenpeace and Transport and Environment), Low Emission Car Measures Under the EU’s CO2 Regulations for Passenger Cars, the attached briefing and infographic show that ‘supercredits’ would only undermine the benefits of the new law and delay the achievement of its 95 gram CO2/km target by 2020. In particular, the less the EU improves the fuel consumption of European vehicles, the higher the costs that will be borne by drivers.
The briefing outlines why supercredits are the wrong proposal at the wrong time, highlighting their negative effects showing they would result in:
• A worse deal for the climate - more CO2 emissions
• A worse deal for Europe’s economy - higher oil import bills
• A worse deal for consumers - bigger fuel costs
• A worse deal for Europe’s competitiveness - loss of EU leadership on cleaner cars
Contacts:
Franziska Achterberg – EU transport policy director: 
, +32 (0)2 274 1918
Ed Davitt – EU communications officer: 
, +32 476 988584 (mobile)
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.
Compliance by creative accounting