EU proposals for climate protection: classic combustion engines in Europe on the verge of extinction


EU proposals on climate protection
Classic combustion engines in Europe are about to be extinguished

“Fit for 55” is what the EU Commission calls its far-reaching proposals for climate protection. According to this, from 2035 only emission-free cars will be allowed to be registered. Flying within Europe should become more expensive. Imports of climate-damaging products into the EU should also cost additional.

The EU Commission is tackling European climate protection and making concrete proposals on how this should succeed. The legislative package, entitled “Fit for 55” by the EU, concerns three major issues: the approval of emission-free vehicles, the taxation of kerosene on flights within Europe and the introduction of a CO2 tax on climate-damaging imports. Brussels wants to prepare the European economy to emit at least 55 percent less greenhouse gas by 2030 compared to 1990.

The EU Commission wants no more conventional gasoline and diesel cars to be registered in Europe by the middle of the next decade at the latest. A currently presented proposal stipulates that from 2035 only emission-free new vehicles should be registered in the EU. However, there should be a review clause. Accordingly, every two years it should be analyzed how far the manufacturers are; A major test report is to follow in 2028. In theory, the date 2035 could still be postponed. The EU countries and the EU Parliament still have to approve the proposal.

For the transformation in the transport sector, charging points for electric cars are to be set up every 60 kilometers on major highways in the EU. The Commission estimates the investment costs for the charging infrastructure at a total of 15 billion euros. Hydrogen filling stations are to be built every 150 kilometers. The EU Commission also said that even if you are currently assuming a poor energy mix, an electric car has lower emissions than a classic combustion engine.

Incineration of synthetic materials is still allowed

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that a time frame was important in order to ensure planning security for the manufacturers. “How they change their production is up to the manufacturers,” stressed the politician. “They know best how to develop new cars or new fuels.” In addition to electric cars, combustion engines can also be climate-neutral if they run on hydrogen or synthetic fuels. If produced correctly, these energy sources do not ultimately emit any additional greenhouse gases. Currently, however, the alternatives are relatively expensive. At the end of 2020, the ADAC assumed that a liter of synthetic fuel would cost around 4.50 euros to produce. Optimistic forecasts considered a price of 2.29 euros including taxes in 2030 to be possible.

As a second major aspect, the EU Commission proposes the introduction of a kerosene tax on flights within Europe. Air traffic within Europe therefore contributes 3.8 percent to the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The current tax exemption dates back to the 1944 Chicago Convention. At that time, the young means of transport aircraft should be promoted.

In the aviation industry, a kerosene tax has met with criticism – international competitive disadvantages in particular are feared, as the Airport Association (ADV) in Berlin said. Increasing increases in climate targets should not be a one-way street from constant burdens – the Commission must also “promote and support” financially. For example, an e-bus costs three times as much as a diesel bus for journeys on the tarmac; only three airports in Germany are currently connected to the ICE network and five to the long-distance network. The quotas required by the EU for the admixture of sustainable fuels should not only apply to European, but also to international airlines.

Emissions trading should apply to large ships

The reduction in CO2 emissions in the transport sector also affects maritime transport. It contributes four percent to EU emissions. The Commission proposes to include maritime transport in emissions trading from 2023 – with a focus on large ships, which are responsible for 90 percent of CO2 emissions in this transport sector. Ships anchored in port would have to be supplied with energy free of emissions.

The Association of German Shipowners (VDR) declared that “in terms of climate protection, we also consider financial levies to be sensible so that shipping ultimately produces less CO2”. The association is pushing for the EU to design its regional system in such a way that it can be transferred without major adjustments to a system that the International Maritime Organization will “foreseeably” adopt with worldwide validity. The shipowners also advocated the application of the “Polluter-pays” principle: “Whoever buys the fuel and determines the course of the ship should consequently also pay the climate surcharge and be solely responsible for emissions trading,” explained VDR President Alfred Hartmann.

As a third major aspect, the EU Commission proposes the introduction of an import tax on climate-damaging products from 2026. The transition phase will start as early as 2023 so that companies can adjust to it. Subsequently, importers of steel, aluminum, cement and fertilizers will have to buy CO2 certificates according to the climate-damaging nature of their imports. The so-called CO2 border adjustment mechanism is intended to encourage third countries to make their industries more climate-friendly. In addition, this should prevent a migration of CO2-intensive branches of industry. “CO2 emissions must have a price,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Heating oil costs for consumers could rise

The idea of ​​a CO2 border tax was proposed last year, among other things, to finance the EU’s Corona reconstruction fund and basically received the blessing of the heads of state and government. It was originally planned to introduce it as early as 2023. Importing companies would therefore have to have the carbon intensity of the products assessed and purchase appropriate emission certificates. But that would take more time, explained a commission representative for the later introduction. Brussels also wants to significantly reduce the issuance of free CO2 certificates to certain economic sectors in the EU. That would be necessary in order not to give these industries an advantage over international competition. For consumers, the project of a separate emissions trading scheme for the road traffic and building sectors is also important. According to the EU Commission, suppliers of petrol and heating oil are expected to have to buy certificates on this parallel market from 2026 onwards. Heating and fuel costs are likely to rise as a result.

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