BRUSSELS - Car manufacturers need to step up efforts to meet their pledge to cut carbon dioxide pollution from vehicles by 2008, the European Commission said on Thursday.
A report by the European Union executive said CO2 emissions from cars in the bloc fell by 11.8 percent between 1995 and 2003 in the 15 old member states, not enough to meet voluntary targets.
"Major additional efforts will be required in the coming years in order to deliver the target to which the industry has committed itself," the Commission said.
South Korean car producers were lagging behind companies from Europe and Japan in reducing car emissions.
"I am encouraged by the good results achieved particularly by the European and Japanese Associations since 1995," said Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen.
"On the Korean side, we have received assurances that they will increase their efforts and catch up soon with the other two associations."
Cutting pollution from cars is part of the EU's drive to meet its commitments to combat global warming under the Kyoto treaty on climate change.
The report only covered emissions in the 15 countries that belonged to the EU before its enlargement last year which added another 10 members, mainly from ex-communist eastern Europe.
European, Japanese and Korean car makers agreed in 1995 to lower carbon dioxide emission to 140 grammes per km by 2008-2009, with the ultimate goal of 120 grammes per km.
In 2003, their models emitted 163, 172 and 179 grammes per km, representing cuts of 11.9, 12.2 and 9.1 percent respectively, the report said.
Although emissions from new models decreased, carbon dioxide levels from road transport have risen by 22 percent since 1990 because more people are driving more cars. Passenger vehicles are responsible for half of all emissions.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
