Even Stephen Harper says we have to take serious action to reduce motor vehicle GHG emissions. If he's serious, he can take a look at California governor Schwarzenegger's latest initiative. He'd also do well to look at the latest attempts of the European Union.
The EU has announced a standard of 130g/km of carbon dioxide emissions by 2012. The target has the automotive industry up in arms. The EU has opted for mandatory limits after the failure of European and Asian car makers to meet a voluntary target of 140g/km by 2008.
The EU was hoping for a 25% reduction from the 1995 level of 185g/km but average CO2 emissions fell just 23g/km. Manufacturers had made great improvements in engine efficiency but those gains were largely offset as consumers demanded more powerful, larger and heavier vehicles.
Automotive industry spokesmen say they're quite capable of meeting the new EU standard of 130g/km of CO2 but, when they have produced cars that met or bettered that goal, the public didn't buy them.
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