In its section on transport, the action plan wants to concentrate on improving the efficiency of cars, developing markets for cleaner vehicles, ensuring the maintenance of proper tyre pressure, improving the efficiency of urban, rail, maritime and aviation transport systems, and changing transportation behaviour.

It then lists as a “priority action” that the Commission “will if necessary propose in 2007 legislation to ensure that the 120 g/km target is achieved by 2012 through a comprehensive and consistent approach, in accordance with the agreed EU objective.”

The plan lists 10 priority actions, including a coherent use of energy taxation, encouraging energy efficiency in the new member states, and making power generation and distribution more efficient.

The Commission is due to publish a general EU energy policy document in January.

• Germany has published a programme aimed at doubling the country’s energy efficiency by 2020 compared with 1990. The programme includes a plan to make vehicle taxation dependent on emissions of CO₂ and other pollutants. It was agreed with energy companies, and will involve €5.6 billion of state money.

This news story is taken from the October 2006 edition of T&E Bulletin.