The European Union is facing calls from CEOs and executives of 50 companies to maintain its target of phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. The call comes amid concerns that the new EU Commission and MEPs might reopen the target.
The companies, which include Volvo Cars, Uber, Ikea’s largest franchisee Ingka, and energy giant Iberdrola, say that the 2035 target is “feasible and necessary” and that they have already made significant investments to meet it. They warn that reopening the target would create uncertainty and jeopardize their investments.
Car and van emissions account for more than one-eighth (13%) of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. CO2 emissions from cars increased by 6% between 2000 and 2019.
The EU’s 2035 target is a key part of its plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The target was agreed to by EU governments and MEPs in March 2023, but some lawmakers have since called for it to be relaxed. The companies argue that weakening the target would damage Europe’s competitiveness in the global electric vehicle market.
In a statement, Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, said: “To pursue the business and industrial transformations needed to reduce emissions, CEOs and executives need regulatory stability. Their message to newly appointed EU policy makers is: ‘Don’t let us down.’ Wavering on the agreed 2035 phase-out of the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles would jeopardise their investments, their fleet decarbonisation objectives and, ultimately, the EU climate neutrality goal.”
The companies also point out that car and van emissions account for more than one-eighth of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. They say that maintaining the 2035 target is essential to meet the EU’s climate goals.
