"We are leading the way in the fight against climate change"
At the same time as the range of new cars is contributing more than ever to achieving the intermediary target of a 55% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030, the ideological criticism of the automobile industry as a polluter continues, despite the reduced emissions already achieved by the most recent models.
“The problem is private vehicle fleet” says Philippe Dehennin, President of the Automobile and Cycle Federation of Belgium and Luxembourg. “A balanced framework to encourage the replacement of older vehicles is lacking in Belgium, and there is also no landmark legislation that encourages the purchase of electric vehicles.”
He adds: ”What is more, rather than tackling the overall problem of climate change, politicians are taking aim at cars as a symbolic scapegoat, which is putting off buyers. All human activity should have targets for reducing emissions, including air travel, transport in general, housing, farming, industry, data centres, electricity generation and the manufacture of clothes.”
He concludes: ”The automobile industry is forward- looking and innovative and is creating a future of intelligent and passionate mobility that respects the environment. We stress the central place that it will occupy in the economy of the future. We are leading the way in the fight against climate change, and we expect political decision-makers to accompany our sector.”
