Search Company:
There is no need for a ban if it can be powered in a climate neutral way.
Rather than prescribing solutions like electrification to decarbonise road transport, policymakers should focus on creating a framework for innovation that takes a technology-neutral approach, argues MEP Barbara Thaler.
Barbara Thaler is an Austrian MEP with the Austrian People’s Party (Österreichische Volkspartei), affiliated to the EU’s centre-right EPP Group. She is a member of the European Parliament’s transport committee.
This article was originally published by Euractiv.
The European Parliament has given its backing to a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, which proponents say is necessary to limit carbon emissions. The EPP, however, did not support this. Can you outline why?
For us as EPP, the principle of technology-neutrality is the foundation of each policy. True sustainability demands not only climate change measures, but also measures which safeguard the competitiveness of Europe’s economy and ensure social balance.
It is not sufficient, when the Green Deal is just green, it needs to be a Deal as well. In this context, a Green Deal needs also Green Jobs. With a solemn focus on battery electric mobility, we miss these measures and the chance to build a European market and industry for renewable fuels; we just shift the dependency of resources even more towards China.
There is no reason at all for not acknowledging sustainable bio-fuels and synthetic fuels as climate neutral. Europe needs the internal combustion engine. There is no need for a ban if it can be powered in a climate neutral way. Besides that, our targets are ambitious and in order to reach them, we need the whole bouquet of options available.
What would you like to see regarding the upcoming proposal for CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles?
Also here I would like to see a technology-neutral approach. Which means, no more tailpipe measurements. The vote on the crediting scheme for cars and vans was tight, so I hope the Commission took note and they will come forward with a proposal that incorporates the whole lifecycle emissions measurement, instead of a tiny piece within the whole chain.
Some have touted synthetic fuels as a means to make internal combustion engine vehicles carbon neutral, though critics say they are inefficient compared to electric vehicles. What is your position on synthetic fuels as a solution for road transport?
In my opinion, politics should create a framework that allows innovation to flourish. Later on, the market will decide which option will be best, depending of the individual need of the people and the sectors. In road transport, synthetic fuels, along with biofuels, will play a key role.
On top, we need hydrogen anyhow as seasonal storage for electricity. Further refining it towards synthetic fuels is the obvious thing to do. Especially since this would allow us Europeans to reduce our dependencies from some problematic suppliers.
After all, it doesn´t matter which vehicle type or which mode uses what. The atmosphere does not care which mode saves which amount of CO₂.
Oil prices have been extremely volatile since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some member states have put in place subsidies to keep petrol prices down. Do you think governments should be taking action, or should it be up to the market to set the price of petrol and diesel?
The market should be able to work independently within a given frame. Nevertheless, no system is flawless so some interventions from time to time are necessary. People need urgent support now; therefore, it is right if governments respond appropriately and timely.
In the long run, we must exploit Europe’s strength, which has always been innovation and research. A big safeguard is the internal market and own resources, both have to be improved and this will help to stabilise prices. Read more
Source: IRU
