Significant reductions in VRT road tax for hybrid fuel efficient cars and commercial vehicles would be the most effective way of encouraging the necessary reduction in Ireland’s transport related CO2 emissions.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she welcomed the proposals of the European Commission to achieve a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions from transport vehicles by 2012.

She expressed some optimism about the Commission’s refusing to bend to the lobby activity of the international motor industry and urged them to adhere to the targets announced today, and as soon as possible, to put in place the promised legislative framework to reduce C02 emissions from new cars and vans.  “The technological solution to achieving the necessary CO2 emissions from vehicles are available as a number of manufacturers have already shown but consumer uptake of new generation vehicles will require a practical incentive at national government level”, she said.

This could be a combination of road tax reductions and support for the  use of fuel efficient cars through incentivising the availability and use of relevant fuels, the Independent MEP said.  “There must be serious action at national as well as EU level if C02 emissions are to be reduced and one good reason for this is that C02 emissions from EU transport has increased by 26% from 1990 to 2004 while overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the EU reduced by almost 5%”, Marian Harkin said.