WorldAutoSteel, the automotive group of the World Steel Association, has called on the European Council to uphold the European Parliament's amendment acknowledging the importance of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in emissions legislation after 2020.
WorldAutoSteel points out that the current regulation focuses solely on what comes out of the tailpipe; the emissions produced during the car's driving phase. However, this approach may lead to the unintended consequence of increasing greenhouse gas emissions during the vehicle's total life cycle as the emissions contribution from the fuel cycle, vehicle production and disposal are not being considered. A growing number of scientific studies show that at present 16 percent of all emissions relating to passenger cars are not covered by tailpipe regulation. This figure is likely to more than double in the future with more fuel efficient cars expected in the market.
Therefore, as stated by WorldAutoSteel, a life cycle assessment will primarily assist automakers in evaluating and reducing the total energy consumed as well as the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of their products.
As SteelOrbis previous reported, in April this year the European Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) decided to support a life cycle approach in evaluating CO2 emissions from passenger cars. Members approved draft legislation calling for the taking into account of "greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy supply and the life cycle of the vehicle" for regulations after 2020.