A new survey has found that the majority of Europeans are behind legislation that will force big cuts in carbon dioxide emissions from new cars.

An opinion poll from the TNS Group found that 87 per cent of people polled in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain supported measures to reduce the fuel consumption of new cars.

Legislation from the European Commission could curb CO2 emissions from new cars to 120g per km by 2012 compared to the current levels which are 158g per km.

The research was commissioned for Friends of the Earth and Joreon Verhoeven from the group said it was a "loud and clear message".

Carmakers want the deadline to be extended but Friends of the Earth claim they need to do more to combat the issues they face.

Friends of the Earth used the example of Volkswagen's Beetle and claimed that it uses a similar amount of petrol to its fuel consumption figures just after World War Two.

A committee at the legislature will vote on the proposals on Monday, Reuters reports.



Source:

Europeans back tough car emission targets, 28/08/08
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSLS66982520080828?sp=true