Commission's top scientific advisers publish opinion on how to better measure car CO2 emissions

The High Level Group of the Commission's new Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) has published its first opinion. It focuses on enhancing the measurement of CO₂ emissions from cars.

The independent group of eminent scientists welcome the introduction of the new emissions testing procedure as from 2017 that is expected to provide more representative CO₂ emission measurements. They recommend a regular review of this procedure, complemented by a framework for the monitoring of real driving CO₂ emissions including a formal reporting of the fuel consumption of passenger cars. The scientific opinion also calls for enhanced coordination and regulatory oversight across the EU, based on legislation that is designed to stimulate innovation and low carbon technologies.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "We set up the Group of High-level Scientific Advisers only last year to support policy making with high-quality, independent scientific advice, in line with the Better Regulation Agenda to improve the quality of EU legislation. This is exactly what they have done with this first report. We need to reduce CO₂ emissions of cars and vans if we are to achieve climate and sustainability goals, and now we have additional scientific evidence base to mould future climate policies in this area."

Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, said: "Curbing CO₂ emissions and more representative measurements will support European and global efforts to decarbonise transport in view of international commitments to combat climate change. An important step has been the adoption of a new emissions testing procedure. This first opinion of the SAM High-level Group will undoubtedly constitute a key reference for our work on post-2020 emission performance standards for cars and vans in the EU."

The scientific opinion, drafted in response to a request by Commissioner Arias Cañete, draws upon a comprehensive review of scientific literature, a wide-ranging consultations with the most relevant scientific experts and policy, industry and civil society stakeholders and a visit to the Vehicle Emissions Laboratory of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

The Group is currently also working on an opinion on cybersecurity, which is expected to be published in early 2017, and has published recently an explanatory note on glyphosate.