The Californian government has decided to ban the registration of diesel trucks - and is thus stricter in its reduction plans for traffic emissions than the EU. Environmental association T&E is now demanding that the European Union also follow suit by 2035.
In 2027, new regulations will come into force in the United States. "80 per cent tougher than the current rules", are supposed to reduce operational emissions from trucks by 50 per cent by 2045 and ensure cleaner heavy traffic. But this is not the only measure to make traffic greener on the other side of the Atlantic. For California plans to ban the registration of diesel trucks - leaving open the question of whether the European Union is doing enough to protect the environment.
From 2036 onwards, no new diesel trucks are to be registered in the US state of California - announced the Californian government. A ban with which the "Golden State" could overtake the European editorial plans in the context of the combustion engine phase-out and the traffic turnaround. While the European registration ban for passenger cars is scheduled for 2035 - at least on paper - the situation is different for trucks. As such a ban could come in 2040 at the earliest.
Too late, the EU could therefore ban the sale of diesel-powered trucks on the member states' car market. Especially when reports by environmental authorities show that - for example in Germany, but also in other EU countries - climate targets in the transport sector are only a distant prospect. The EU must take stronger action to reduce pollutant emissions from transport effectively and in the long term.
California's plan has already attracted the attention of environmental groups such as Transport&Environment (T&E). T&E has called the planned measure "the most ambitious truck emissions law in the world" - and that is exactly how ambitious the Union should be, according to the environmental association. It demands that the EU should also only allow new emission-free trucks from 2035. In addition, more ambitious targets for 2030 should be aimed for. For example, according to current figures, the European Union could aim for a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. By 2040, on the other hand, a C02 reduction of 90% should be possible for new trucks. Stricter environmental zone regulations could facilitate the transition by gradually restricting access to polluting vehicles, including trucks - which would then lead to their complete banning.
This should not only make a significant contribution to environmental protection and help the European Union meet its anticipated reduction targets, but also have a positive impact on the European economy. Indeed, if Europe does not follow California's lead and intervene with similar bans, European truck manufacturers could lose their industrial leadership in the global vehicle market. Adjusting emission standards for vehicles from the moment they are registered at the factory would therefore help in the fight against climate change - and at the same time support an important part of the European economy.
What will the European Union do now? Will other countries in other parts of the world follow suit and ban diesel-fuelled trucks in the next decade? Will California be able to go ahead with its plan - and perhaps even get other US states to join in? How will the bans be controlled? Through environmental zones and zero-emission zones like in Europe?