July 12, 2012 View all news The IndependentMARTIN HICKMANEuropean plans announced yesterday would force carmakers to cut carbon dioxide emissions by a third by the end of the decade, slashing motorists around £3,000 over the lifetime of each new car.In the latest prong of its attempt to hit climate change targets, the European Commission recommended cutting average emissions from new cars to 95 grams CO2 per km and vans to 147g by 2020.The EC said the proposals - which are likely to be fiercely resisted by Europe's powerful automative industry - would save car users hundreds of pounds each year in lower fuel costs.They would also lead to almost a halving of climate change emissions from passenger vehicles in a decade. Average emissions from new cars were 172g in 2000.Read more Categorised in: Climate Change Transport