Emissions from new passenger cars sold in Ireland decreased by nearly 10 per cent between 1995 and 2000 in terms of CO2, according to figures released last week by the EU.
The fourth Annual Report on CO2 emissions shows that, while emissions from new passenger cars fell across the EU by 10.8 per cent over the course of the study, in Ireland levels fell by about 8.5 per cent up to the year 2000, the most recent figures available for Ireland.
The EU's goal is to achieve a reduction of 35 per cent by 2010. Under the Koyoto protocols, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) committed itself in 1995 to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars alongside its Japanese and Korean equivalents.
All three associations committed themselves to reaching the same quantified CO2 emissions target of 140g/km as an average for new passenger cars sold in the EU.
Between them, the three associations account for about 99 per cent of the car market in the EU: some 86.4 per cent of all new cars registered in the EU in 2002 were European, 11.1 per cent were Japanese and 2.4 per cent were Korean, the report says.
Road transport generates more than one fifth of all CO2 emissions in the EU, with passenger cars being responsible for more than half of these emissions.
EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said the new figures were important "as emissions from the transport sector are growing. Since 1990 there has been a 20 per cent increase. If we want to reach our Kyoto targets, we have to lower CO2 emissions from transport even further."
The EU has committed to reducing CO2 emissions to 140 grams per kilometre by 2010.
Already, by 2000, the ACEA hit the interim target range set for 2003 and is now at the high end of the interim range for full compliance. Japanese automobile manufacturers also hit the upper end of the interim target range.
However, Korean manufacturers remain a problem, according to the report.
Although it has been catching up in the past two years, the report warns there is a real risk that the Korean car-makers association will not meet its 2004 interim target range, given that only two years are left to close a gap of 13g/km.
The three associations have committed themselves to reaching the reduction targets mainly through technological development and market changes linked to these developments.
The EU's strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and improve fuel economy was endorsed by the European Council in 1996.
Last week's report is the first for the reporting period 1995-2000 and mainly covers progress made with regard to the commitments of the car industry.