The EU has in recent months demonstrated that it is stuck between  rhetoric on climate change and conflicting industrial interests. While the European Commission’s climate department maintains that the EU’s priority is to lead in climate change measures and take over global green tech markets, its trade people have been busy watering down South Korean environmental standards for cars in the context of the new free trade agreement.

A recently leaked document from the Commission shows how EU officials have been engaging in lobbying to bring down car standards proposed in Korea. If adopted, the standards would have required European vehicle manufacturers to comply with stricter limits on CO2/km. The Commission communicated that as a result of consultations, the Koreans have agreed to adjust formula used to calculate CO2 reductions, give derogations to car-makers who only sell small numbers of cars and grant ecoinnovation credits.

The documents show how the EU executive urged South Korean authorities to consult EU car-makers on the issue. The German car industry strikes again after the long-suffering EU negotiations on CO2 limits for cars ended in 2008 with a long phasing-in period due to strong pressure from the industry. 

It’s puzzling how European leadership in climate protection translates into diplomatic arm-twisting to secure more lenient standards for its industry. If only the EU and its car-makers spent more resources on green innovation and less on fighting for the right to continue polluting practices which will win no prizes in the green technology race.