This week, the European Commission doubled down on Europe’s policies to cut CO2 emissions from cars, as pressure mounts to weaken laws.

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), and the EU’s biggest political group, mounted a campaign to weaken the EU’s main policies for cutting CO2 emissions from cars. The campaign aims to reverse the 2035 ban on sales of new CO2-emitting cars, as well as the law to support plug-in hybrid cars.

The Financial Times reported that sympathy is growing even among Green politicians, as manufacturers complain they can’t make people buy electric vehicles (EVs) when they are more expensive and lack the infrastructure to maintain them. The EPP’s strategy is to introduce a three-year period where you can average out emissions, incentivising the sale of EVs in 2026 and 2027.

The EU automotive industry is struggling to meet both carbon emissions and sales targets, as carmakers battle to keep up with Chinese competition. China’s CATL announced an expansion of its manufacturing footprint in Europe alongside a deal with Stellantis to build a €4.1bn lithium battery factory in Spain. At the same time, European carmakers are shedding jobs and closing factories, with Swedish battery developer and manufacturer, Northvolt, filing for bankruptcy a few weeks ago.

EU climate commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, told Reuters that he was not considering changing the car CO2 rules. The EU have maintained that the climate rules are necessary to meet Europe’s legally-binding emissions goals and to provide a predictable investment environment for European companies.

In Irish news:

• Environmental group Friends of the Earth calls for an immediate “moratorium on new data centres and expansion of existing ones” as their research suggests it threatens Ireland’s climate targets.
• The Government’s climate advisors set a 15-year deadline for ending the use of fossil fuels, warning that there is “limited to no” room left for further sales of petrol and diesel vehicles.
• New research has found that 73% of young Irish people between the ages of 14 and 29 are anxious about the impacts of climate change.

In other world news:

• Scientists say that climate change is causing the Philippines to be more vulnerable to tropical storms, with the formation of four typhoons around the country last month was made 70% more likely as a result of rising temperatures.
• Renewable energy from wind, solar and hydropower will account for about 37% of the UK’s electricity this year, higher than fossil fuels for the first time.
• The International Court of Justice concluded hearings on Friday on whether countries have a legal obligation to fight climate change, with an opinion to be issued, likely in 2025.