EU eases emissions caps for carmakers

BRUSSELS, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- After pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the car industry, the European Commission scaled down its plan to cap carbon dioxide emissions.

While European Union Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas wanted carmakers to achieve an average emissions target of 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2012, the final proposal sets a legally binding limit of 130 grams per kilometer. A further 10 grams per kilometer are to be cut through the increased use of biofuels, the commission said.

Europe's big carmakers will fail to meet the voluntary benchmark set a few years ago, which called for reducing emissions to 140 grams per kilometer by 2008, yet pressure from big German carmakers and a plea from the German chancellor, who holds the EU presidency, caused the EU to scale back its targets.

Environmental activists have criticized the decision, arguing it didn't go far enough.

Others have said the new limit is an important first step.

"This is an ambitious goal, with which Europe does justice to its global pioneering role when it comes to climate protection," German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.