VW’s Winterkorn underscores VW’s CO2 targets with Greenpeace, with caveat about customers
25 March 2013
At the beginning of the Geneva Motor Show this year, the Volkswagen Group announced it was committed to reducing the CO2 output of its European new car fleet to 95 grams per kilometer by 2020. (Earlier post.) This commitment was underscored by Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Executive Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, during a meeting with Brigitte Behrens, Executive Director of Greenpeace Germany, in Hanover.
I guarantee that we will do everything in our power to reach carbon dioxide emissions of 95 grams without any reservations. However, this will only be possible if customers accept our advanced alternative powertrains. This is of course our objective.
—Martin Winterkorn
This is a decision in favor of climate protection and a key signal for committing to the protection of the environment and society and the series production of climate-friendly technical solutions. We will remain in dialogue with Volkswagen, also as regards mobility concepts for the future.
—Brigitte Behrens
Volkswagen said that it and Greenpeace have been engaging in a “constructive and in some cases also confrontational dialog” concerning the reduction of the CO2 emissions of the entire Volkswagen fleet to an average of 95 grams by 2020.
In 2011, Greenpeace began a Star Wars-themed campaign against Volkswagen’s stance on CO2 targets for vehicles.
In connection with the calculation of fleet emissions, a special area of contention has been “supercredits”, which allow manufacturers to count electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as low-emission vehicles several times over.
Volkswagen says that it and Greenpeace will continue constructive dialogue about further environmental targets to be adopted by the Group and how they are to be achieved.
I have to agree with Greenpeace. For all their merits, you still can't count electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as low-emission vehicles several times over.
Posted by: ai_vin | 25 March 2013 at 12:27 PM
Wonder how many technical people Greenpeace has who are in a position to judge solutions which industries are proposing to reduce CO2. Far as I can tell most of the members are social and political scientists with some left wing housewives thrown in for good measure. And these clowns are sitting at the table where decisions are made. Who elected them anyway?
Posted by: Mannstein | 25 March 2013 at 01:18 PM
No one.
The leaders of Green Peace make a fine living scaring the bejesus out of the Rubes, and having their minions collect charitable contributions, that they then spend. They do nothing with the funds given them except consume them. They aver that they spend to "raise public consciousness" which is just another form of, and more fund raising.
It is a tough life having to jet set about from Rio to Bali or such places, stay at fancy hotels, eat the best food, and hobnob with the elite, at Conferences which accomplish nothing.
But the Green Peace leaders are willing to "sacrifice" and do it for us.
Posted by: D | 27 March 2013 at 08:32 PM