Automakers, regulators and green campaigners set for CO2 battle

Automakers will meet with EU officials and green campaigners this month to open discussions on what will likely be a tough 2030 target for the reduction of CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe. The meeting likely will be tense. After achieving a 34 percent drop in emissions over the past 20 years, car companies say they are reaching the limit of what is doable. European Commission officials and environmental campaigners are likely to disagree with the automakers and instead seek further cuts to CO2 emissions, which are partly blamed for climate change. On June 18 the Commission will present studies evaluating areas including the need for CO2 cuts, which technologies will help meet the goal and whether investing to cut emissions will hurt automakers’ competitiveness.