The European Council announced that it has adopted a new regulation which includes a requirement for a 100% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and vans registered in the EU from 2035. The announcement marks the final major step in the adoption of stricter CO2 emission performance standards in the EU, one of the key planks of the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” roadmap – the EU’s proposed strategy to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The new regulation had been agreed to by the Council and the European Parliament in October 2022, but had faced challenges in reaching its final adoption, with Germany asking for assurances that combustion engines would still be allowed past the 2035 deadline, provided that they run on carbon neutral fuels, or “e-fuels.”

Source:  ESGToday