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THE UK GOVERNMENT is opposing EU moves which would cut carbon emissions from cars and save drivers hundreds of pounds a year in the future, environmental campaigners have claimed.
According to leaked documents, the Department for Transport is briefing UK members of the European Parliament to oppose amendments to regulations on cutting carbon dioxide from cars which would require a tough new target for new vehicles from 2025.
Greenpeace scaled a five-storey building in Lewes, in Transport Minister Norman Baker's constituency, to unfurl a banner claiming he is blocking the proposals put forward by fellow Liberal Democrat Fiona Hall, representing the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee.
The amendments to the regulation governing cuts to carbon emissions from cars up to 2020 would mean the inclusion of a long-term CO2 reduction target for 2025, potentially 70 grammes per kilometre on average across the fleet. The current targets require manufacturers to reduce average carbon emissions for new cars to 130g/km in 2015 and 95g/km in 2020
The environmental group suggests the target, which would give the industry an indication of what it will need to do beyond 2020, could halve carbon emissions from cars and save motorists £400 a year by making vehicles more fuel- efficient.
Greenpeace also says the Department of Transport is supporting measures which would enable car-makers to over-count the number of electric vehicles they are producing to allow other cars to produce more emissions.
Campaigner Sara Ayech said: "These documents reveal that there is a split at the heart of the Liberal Democrats over policy to reduce carbon emissions and save motorists money.
"Norman Baker should follow the progressive lead of Fiona Hall and support laws that will help the environment, whilst putting an average of £400 a year back into the pockets of hard-pressed motorists."
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "It is important to strike the right balance by supporting ambitious targets, while ensuring we do not hinder industry growth or competitiveness and encourage continued investments in low- carbon vehicle technologies in the EU."
"Beyond 2020, it is likely that some form of mandatory targets will continue to be an effective measure for reducing CO2.
"We would only consider specific targets following a Commission review and assessment of the impacts to ensure that target levels were ambitious, but realistic and based on sound evidence."
