Greenpeace

Everybody's favorite pre-historic family was arrested today in Brussels, Belgium. A group of protesters from Greenpeace dressed in Flintstones-style garb were taken into custody today as they approached the European Parliament building. The EU parliament is about to start debating the legislation that would impose carbon dioxide emissions limits on automakers. The European Commission had recommended rules with hefty fines for non-compliance and fleet average emissions limited to 130g/km by 2012. Under pressure from ACEA, the European automakers association, the parliament has moved to reduce the fines and stretch out the time-line for implementation. German automakers in particular are most opposed to the new rules and German legislators have vowed to protect their domestic industry. The Greenpeace protesters were opposed to the amount of influence the industry has had on the new regulations.

[Source: Reuters]

Currently, the average emissions of vehicles in Europe are 162 grams per kilometer driven (OK, this is the number from 2005, but that's as current as anyone has figures for). A European Commission proposal released today wants to force automakers to use technology to cut those emissions from new cars sold in the EU to 130 by 2012. A further 10 grams per kilometer would be reduced through biofuels.

EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said that he knows the technology additions will be expensive, but there are broader benefits.

"We have to be clear about this, this is something which would considerably increase manufacturing costs per car," he told the AP, adding that the extra costs "will be more than balanced by the fact that cars will have greater fuel efficiency."

Not everyone is happy with this plan, naturally. One opposition group, the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT), says that these plans "cast a cloud on the horizon." Specifically, that the emission reductions/higher prices will certainly not help sell cars. SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan released a statement saying, "We have also already produced and brought to market cars that can meet the 120g/km limit – the problem is that motorists do not buy them!"

[Source: BBC, AP, SMMT]