European Union environment ministers Monday backed a preliminary agreement with other EU institutions on new rules that will cut greenhouse gas emissions by small trucks starting in 2017.

The new rules will mandate that, on average, new vans built to transport goods and weighing less than 3.5 metric tons will have to emit no more than 175 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2017. The target will decrease to 147 grams per kilometer by 2020.

The deal--which mirrors a similar one on passenger car emissions--is part of the EU's ongoing effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions within the 27-country bloc and across a broad range of industries as varied as cement manufacturing and aviation.

However, final deals are often less ambitious in their targets than the initial proposals by the European Commission, because of strong lobbying efforts by the industries and diverging national interests.

"We have something that is definitely more ambitious than what the industry wanted, said European Commissioner for Climate Connie Hedegaard during a press conference after the ministerial meeting, to which she also participated. "This will actually drive some innovation," she added.

The law will become enforceable once the European Parliament and EU ministers formally rubber-stamp it early next year.
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