The European Union is on the brink of softening a crucial car pollution law following intense auto industry lobbying, a move experts warn could lead to health and environmental damages costing around €100 billion.
Stefano Valentino, James Jackson and Lorenzo Di Stasi report for The Guardian.
In short:
- EU may relax car pollution standards due to auto industry lobbying.
- The proposed Euro 7 standards could see minimal changes from current regulations.
- Health and environmental costs from nitrogen dioxide emissions remain a concern.
Key quote:
"We need to balance ambitious goals with what's feasible."
— Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Single Market.
Why this matters:
The EU's potential backpedaling on car emission standards could mean maintaining high levels of harmful pollutants until 2035, when the bloc phases out combustion engines.
Learn more: Long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to higher levels of illness and mortality even when air pollution levels are well below legal limits, according to a 2021 study. That comes with economic as well as human costs.
Question for the reader:
How should policymakers balance industry interests with environmental and public health concerns?
AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight and editing.
