EU to limit car emissions from 2012

From 2012, cars produced in the EU must meet strict carbon emissions targets, with steeply rising fines on manufacturers that fail to comply, if fiercely contested and delayed legislation now passed by the European Commission is adopted.

　　It sets a four-year phase-in period from 2012 for fines on manufacturers whose fleets exceed an average of 120 grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide.

　　“The proposal is backed by credible penalties,” EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told a news conference. “This will send a strong signal to the world about the determination of the European Union to take bold measures on climate change.”

　　Fines on companies for non-compliance will start at 20 euros ($28.80) per new car for each excess gram per km in 2012 on average over the whole fleet, and rise to 95 euros g/km in 2015.

　　Approval needed
　　Of the overall mandatory target, an average of 130 g/km must be achieved from improved engine technology and the rest through biofuels and more efficient gears, tyres and air-conditioning.

　　The commission’s decision is not the last word. The two other political institutions — the council of member states and the European Parliament — must also approve the legislation.

　　An EU official told reporters the so-called “slope of the curve” in sharing emissions cuts meant makers of heavier vehicles would have to do more than manufacturers of lighter cars.

　　Germany had demanded a slope of 80% to protect its car industry that predominantly produces heavier luxury vehicles, while France had sought a 25% slope to put the main burden on bigger, more polluting cars. The commission eventually agreed on a 60% slope.

　　‘Competition war’
　　Car makers will be able to team up and pool their Co2 emissions to meet the EU targets. That means makers of heavier cars will be able to buy emissions credits from producers whose fleet is below the limit.

　　German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel, often a backer of EU green initiatives, called the legislation a “competition war” against the German car industry to benefit French and Italian rivals.

　　While France complained that the commission had let makers of heavier, more polluting vehicles off too lightly by varying the emission target according to the weight of the car.

　　Car producers denounced the plan and vowed to lobby member states and the European Parliament to fight them. German luxury car maker BMW said that in its current form the legislation would distort the market.

　　Ivan Hodac, secretary-general of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said the industry was being made a scapegoat. “The level of penalties is totally unacceptable, up to 100 times higher than what is paid by other industries in the EU’s emissions trading scheme,” he said.
　

　　参考译文：

　　如果这项曾受激烈反对而被延迟现被欧盟通过的法规得以实施的话，那么自2012年起，欧盟生产的汽车必须达到严格的二氧化碳排放标准，那些不遵守法规的制造商将被处以高额罚金。

　　欧盟将从2012年起在四年时间里逐步提高罚金，处罚生产车辆平均每公里二氧化碳排放量超过120克的生产商。
　　“这一提案有可靠的处罚措施支持，”欧盟环境专员斯塔夫罗斯·迪马斯在一次新闻发布会上说，“此举将向全世界发出强有力的信号，欧盟决心大胆采取措施应对气候变化。”

　　2012年，对于不遵守法规的公司的初始罚金为，每辆新车每公里超标1克，对其全部车辆平均每辆处以20欧元的罚金，到2015年罚金涨至95欧元每克/每公里。

　　需获得批准
　　为达到这项强制性指标，平均每公里130克的排放量必须通过改进的发动机技术实现，其余排放量可以通过使用生物燃料、采用效率更高的排挡、车胎以及提高空调性能来实现。

　　欧盟的此项决定并不具有最后决定权。其他两个政治机构——各成员国议会以及欧洲议会——也必须通过该项法规。

　　一位欧盟官员告诉记者，所谓的共同限排“曲线斜率”意味着重型车辆制造商比轻型车辆制造商付出的要多。

　　德国要求80%的斜率，以保护其重型豪华轿车生产占主导地位的汽车行业，而法国则要求25%的斜率，把主要限排负担置于污染严重的大型汽车上。最终，欧盟通过的斜率为60%。

　　“争夺战”
　　为达到欧盟的标准，汽车制造商将会团结合作，共同承担二氧化碳排放量。这就意味着重型车辆制造商将能够从车辆排放量低于该规定的制造商那里赊购排放量。

　　德国环境部长西格马尔·加布里尔是欧盟绿色环保提案的积极支持者，他称该法案是一场不利于德国汽车工业而有利于法国和意大利汽车行业的“争夺战”。

　　而法国却抱怨说，欧盟根据汽车重量不同制定的限排标准也不同，这样做就太轻易地放过了高污染的重型车辆。

　　很多汽车制造商公开抨击此项计划，并发誓要游说欧盟成员国以及欧洲议会对此加以反对。德国豪华汽车制造商宝马公司表示，如果法规按照当前形式执行，将会导致汽车市场畸形发展。

　　欧洲汽车制造商Ð会秘书长伊万·霍达奇说，汽车行业充当了替罪羊。“处罚标准完全不可接受，罚金比欧盟排放交易体系中其他行业的罚金高100倍，”他说。