Reform of vehicle emission standards (Euro 7)
20.4.2021
Priority question for written answer P-002126/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Andreas Glück (Renew)
Recently, the CLOVE consortium presented proposals to the Advisory Group on Vehicle Emission Standards (AGVES) to reform vehicle emission standards (Euro 7).
These proposals aim to classify emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH 4) from heavy-duty vehicles as greenhouse gases, something which, for the vehicle type concerned, would require emissions to be determined in a laboratory, as well as their inclusion in greenhouse gas regulations in keeping with their impact on the Earth’s atmosphere
However, CLOVE has also proposed that these substances be classified as air pollutants when emitted from light-duty vehicles, thus as substances with a local effect on the environment and human health. This is currently governed by local air quality regulations.
This reclassification is inappropriate. Neither of these substances are toxic, making it unjustifiable to list them as air pollutants. On the contrary, nitrous oxide is used as a food additive and in human medicine, for example. Whereas methane is also produced by biological processes such as rice growing and cattle farming and is the most common hydrocarbon in the atmosphere.
- 1.What is the justification for the proposed classification of both greenhouse gases N2O and CH 4 as air pollutants?
- 2.What is the justification for classifying the same substances differently depending on the type of vehicle?
- 3.What would be the social, economic and environmental impact of classifying the aforementioned substances as air pollutants in the area of vehicle emission standards?