Propuestas de la UE contra emisores de CO2

Y ahora la notícia seria. Un par de páginas después de la notícia anterior podeis ver esta. Aquí abajo os pego el texto.

Published online: 7 February 2007; | doi:10.1038/news070205-11

Europe declares greenhouse limit for cars
Compromise plan follows tussle between environmental and industrial lobbies.

Michael Hopkin

After two weeks of wrangling, European politicians have proposed new limits for greenhouse gas emissions from cars in the European Union. Under the new plan, cars sold in the 27-nation European Union after 2012 will be allowed to emit a maximum of 130 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

The proposal, which has not yet been officially approved, represents a compromise between Europe's environment commissioner Stavros Dimas, who had proposed a limit of 120 grams per kilometre, and industry commissioner Günter Verheugen, who claimed that such a move would damage Europe's car manufacturers.

The plan replaces an unsuccessful voluntary agreement between European, Japanese and Korean car firms to cap emissions at 140 grams per kilometre. Currently, average emissions stand at 163 grams per kilometre.

European politicians had pledged to tackle the problem because emissions from road traffic in Europe rose by 26% between 1990 and 2004, hampering efforts to reduce total greenhouse emissions, which overall fell by 5% during that period. Today, passenger cars alone count for 12% of Europe's carbon dioxide emissions.

The proposal includes extra measures to reach the original 120-gram target by promoting biofuel use, more efficient air conditioning, and modifications to tyres. These measures should provide cuts that will not have to be paid for directly by manufacturers, Verheugen said yesterday. But consumer advocates fear that the overall proposal could add almost 3,800 euros (US$4,900) to the price of the average new car.

Meanwhile, green lobbyists have criticized the European Commission for pandering to the automobile industry.

"Today's decision is deeply disappointing, and calls into serious question the Commission's commitment to addressing climate change," said Caroline Lucas, a member of the European Parliament representing the Green Party. "Here we see it falling at the first hurdle."

The European Commission is set to consider the proposal, including penalties for failing to meet the new target, later this year.

Como podeis ver, empiezan a aparecer los primeros roces entre la política ambiental y los intereses de las indústrias, en este caso la indústria automobilística. La razón dice que hay que disminuir los gases de efecto invernadero pero el bolsillo (de los industriales) dice que lo más importante en este mundo son los beneficios de la empresa. ¿Cuando entenderá el capitalismo que el crecimiento no tiene que ser salvaje? No hace falta incrementar los beneficios un 15% cada año.

El domingo pasado, en el periódico de El País leía que la indústria automobilística 'amenazaba' con incrementar drásticamente el precio de los coches ya que, de aplicar las nuevas emisiones de dióxido de carbono, sería necesario implementar nuevas tecnologías. Es increíble e inaceptable este tipo de coacciones. Como si esta tecnología no estuviera ya disponible ... sólo con introducir limitadores de velocidad de serie en todos los coches ya se reduciría de forma importante la emisión de CO2.

Además, no hace falta circular en coches todoterreno por la ciudad, ¿no? La potencia económica no hace falta demostarla conduciendo coches altamente contaminantes ... hay otras formas más 'ecologicas' ...