Environmental NGOs call on EU Commission to maintain pressure on German government on clean air

German environmental organisations call on the European Commission to continue the official infringement procedure against Germany regarding high nitrogen dioxide (NOx) levels resulting from road traffic. In a letter ahead of a meeting with affected countries in Brussels on 30 January, BUND, NABU, DUH and VCD call on environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella to demand additional clean air measures, such as the hardware retrofitting of diesel cars. Last year, the Commission had sent a “final warning” to Germany and other countries regarding high nitrogen dioxide levels resulting from road traffic. “Reducing emissions from diesel-powered vehicles is an important step towards achieving compliance with EU air quality standards,” the Commission had said in a press release.

Read the letter in German here.

Find background on the diesel technology’s role for clean air and climate in the CLEW article Why the German diesel summit matters for climate and energy.