March 2007

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version

German transportation minister Wolfgang Tiefensee has suggested a carbon dioxide labeling system for new German cars: environmentally friendly cars would be given a “green traffic light” label, reports the Feb. 12 online issue of Germany’s “Stern” magazine. Cars that produce lots of CO2 would get a “red traffic light” label, a scheme similar to energy-saving labels used for consumer goods. Renate Kuenast, the leader of the Greens in the German Bundestag (parliament) was skeptical about the suggestion, saying that there are hardly any cars being built in Germany that would rate a “green” label. Her heretical advice, according to Stern: “People, buy Toyota hybrids!” The European Union, meanwhile, which had proposed an action plan to lower carbon dioxide emissions (H&FCL Feb. 07), including a directive to reduce passenger car emissions to 120 gram/kilometer for new cars by 2012, has caved in to industry complaints and is now suggesting 130 grams/kilometer, said Stern earlier in its Feb. 7 online edition. Unsurprisingly, Europe’s carmakers took issue even with the new proposals, saying to place these burdens exclusively on carmakers would be “too expensive.” German carmaker BMW was cautiously supportive: “These are the first steps in the right direction,” the story quoted a spokesman, but he concurred carmakers should not be the only ones saddled with climate protection costs.