(Bloomberg) -- The European Union should toughen its targets for decarbonizing road transport, even before the combustion engine is phased out in new cars by 2035, according to a report by a key lawmaker.
Dutch lawmaker Jan Huitema, who is leading the reform through the European Parliament, proposed the 27-member bloc should cut carbon emissions from cars by 75% by 2030. That compares with a 55% reduction laid out by the European Commission in July. Auto manufacturers should face an intermediate target in 2027 to green their fleets, according to a draft report.
“The solution isn't less mobility, it's clean mobility,” said Huitema during a parliament committee meeting. “I fully believe that we should make cars zero emission.”
Tackling emissions from transport is a key pillar of the EU's plans to become climate neutral by 2050 as it is one of the only sectors to see pollution rise in recent years. The goal of phasing out combustion engines by 2035 is expected to bolster demand for electric vehicles and has spurred ambitious plans from some carmakers like Volkswagen AG.
Read more: Key EU Lawmaker Seeks Changes to Carbon Trading Extension
Still, some lawmakers, who already question the Commission's existing targets, voiced skepticism over the increased ambition.
“It is not possible for us to ban combustion engines by 2035,” said Jens Gieseke, shadow rapporteur for the European People's Party, the largest political grouping in parliament. “If you're going to change all your interim targets, and your interim strategy, it's not going to play well.”
Member states, largely from the east of the bloc, have also voiced concerns about a lack of infrastructure and the high cost of electric vehicles.
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