MEPs back further weakening of 2035 car emissions targets

MEPs back further weakening of 2035 car emissions targets

The European Parliament has voted to significantly weaken the EU’s 2035 zero-emission car target, effectively allowing internal combustion engine vehicles to remain on the market for a limited portion of sales. This decision prioritizes industrial competitiveness and job protection over strict decarbonization, granting automakers flexibility through credits for low-carbon steel and sustainable fuels. By shifting from a 100% reduction goal to a more lenient 87.5% target, the legislation signals a retreat from the previously firm commitment to end sales of new combustion engines, thereby extending the lifecycle of polluting vehicles. This policy shift is highly relevant to greenwashing as it creates a regulatory environment where companies can claim environmental progress while continuing to sell high-emission products. By introducing complex credit systems and exceptions for specific materials or technologies, the regulation provides ample opportunities for manufacturers to engage in selective disclosure. They can market themselves as compliant with climate goals through minor adjustments, such as using greener steel, while largely maintaining their reliance on fossil fuel-powered engines. This ambiguity allows corporations to project an image of sustainability that masks the reality of delayed electrification. Furthermore, the move undermines investment certainty for genuine electric vehicle production, rewarding those who resist full transition. This legislative hesitation exposes the vulnerability of climate frameworks to industrial lobbying, enabling companies to exploit regulatory gaps for greenwashing purposes. The resulting uncertainty harms both the environment and honest competitors, as the rules become a tool for political negotiation rather than a clear mandate for ecological responsibility. Consequently, the relaxed standards facilitate a narrative of "cleaner" combustion engines, diluting the integrity of the EU’s green deal and empowering businesses to mislead stakeholders about their actual carbon footprint.

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