Europe Strikes Deal to Ban New Diesel and Gasoline Cars, ‘100 Percent’ Reduction of CO2 Emissions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a State of the Union Address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 15, 2021. Yves Herman/Pool via AP

The European Parliament and European Council have reached a provisional agreement confirming zero-emissions targets for new vans and cars by 2035.

According to the deal arrived at by European Union negotiators with member states, the region will achieve zero-emission road mobility by 2035, according to an Oct. 28 statement. The deal seeks to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 100 percent by 2035, when compared to 2021 levels.

“With these targets, we create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. In addition, purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers,” rapporteur Jan Huitema, a member of the political group Renew Europe, said in the statement.

The agreement is the first of the “Fit for 55” package, a set of proposals aimed at enabling the EU to achieve a 55 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The European Commission will publish a report to evaluate progress toward zero-emission road mobility by 2025 and every two years subsequently.

The EU will channel funding toward the transition to zero-emission vehicles and related technologies. By the end of 2024, existing rules for labeling fuel economy and CO2 emissions will be reviewed.

The deal requires formal approval from the European Council and European Parliament before it takes effect.

There are concerns about the EU’s insistence on the speedy adoption of nonfossil fuel vehicles. In an interview with CNBC, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called the EU plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and vans by 2035 a “purely dogmatic decision.”

“I think there is the possibility—and the need—for a more pragmatic approach to manage the transition,” Tavares said. The firm’s brands include Fiat, Chrysler, and Jeep.

EU Follows Similar US Moves

The EU decision follows similar moves in the United States. In August, California announced that it would ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

In September, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that all new sales of pickups, SUVs, and cars in the state must be plug-in hybrids or fully electric beginning in 2035.

The push to replace fossil fuel vehicles with electric ones by claiming that it’s more environmentally friendly has come under criticism.

A 2019 study by the Ifo Institute in Germany found that an electric Tesla Model 3 emitted 11 percent to 28 percent more CO2 over its lifespan when compared to a diesel Mercedes C220d. The electric batteries used in EVs require energy intensive-mining and processing, causing them to generate two times the CO2 emissions when compared to manufacturing internal combustion engines.

As demand for EVs grows, so will the need for batteries. This means more mining for raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel, thus posing more harm to land, water, and wildlife.