Portugal led Europe for low-CO2-emitting cars in the first three months of 2008, new analysis showed.

The average new car in Portugal emits 139.3g/km, compared to an average of 154.8g/km for new cars sold across 21 countries in Europe in the first quarter of 2008, London-based Jato Dynamics said on Friday.

France, second with average CO2 outputs of 140.2g/km, is the only other EU country to have achieved the European Automobile Manufacturers Association's (ACEA) 1998 commitment to achieve an average of 140g/km for all new passenger vehicles sold in the EU.

France, which introduced tax incentives at the beginning of 2008, has since seen a marked decrease in average CO2 emissions.

Average vehicle CO2 emissions there fell 5.8% after previously falling only 3% in four years.

Portugal has long led Europe in terms of low emission car on the roads, thanks in part to taxation which has traditionally favoured vehicles with smaller engines.

Other EU countries, including the UK and Germany, are planning similar incentive and taxation schemes - Britain's government has recently faced an outcry over plans to retrospectively apply steep rises in annual 'road tax' for some vehicles bought new as far ago as 2001.

The recent G8 summit focused on technology solutions to CO2 emissions, "but evidence from France and Portugal indicates taxation policies and incentives have a substantial effect in curbing CO2 emissions by proactively influencing consumer choice", Jato said .

While average CO2 emissions of new cars remains outside ACEA targets, the data showed a record decrease in the past year, providing "an outside chance that EU objectives of 120 g/km by 2012 may yet be achieved", the researchers added.

Denmark and Finland both made notable strides by slashing 9.1% and 7.7% respectively off the average CO2 emissions of new vehicles sold in Q1 2008, compared to 2007. Both countries will easily meet ACEA targets if average CO2 emissions continue to decrease at similar rates.

Switzerland and Germany, where strong economies and national preference have traditionally favoured larger, more powerful cars, prop up the list of countries. CO2 emissions of new vehicles in each country dropped by record amounts, but both look set to miss 2012 targets by some way.

"It's encouraging that CO2 emissions have dropped by record amounts almost across the board, but most countries have missed ACEA targets for 2008 and the 2012 targets look very optimistic," Jato added.

"The signs from Switzerland and Germany are that technology can have a significant impact on CO2 emissions in new vehicles regardless of consumer buying habits. Looking across Europe however, our analysis points to an equal emphasis on policy and technology to deliver effective change in the long-term.

"Fuel costs are also set to play a massive role in guiding consumers towards fuel efficient cars."

新的调查显示，葡萄牙每辆新车的排放量平均是139.3g/km，与其它欧洲21国平均154.8g/km的新车排放量相比，其在2008的前3个月中在降低CO2的排放方面居欧洲前列。

法国是除了葡萄牙以外，以唯一达到在1998年欧洲汽车制造商联合协会中承诺的140.2g/km的平均新车排放量而在调查中位居第二。由于其在2008年初引进了税法激励制度，从而使CO2的排放量有了显著的下降。从以前4年年平均3%的CO2排放下降率到今年的5.8%CO2排放下降率。

葡萄牙长期在欧洲低排放率汽车中占据主导地位还得归功于其税务政策对于小排量引擎的照顾。

其他包括英国，德国等欧洲国家也策划与葡萄牙相似的激励政策和优惠的税法制度。英国政府近来面对其追溯计划中对某些购买于2001年以前的汽车的年费急剧上升的公开抗议。

最近的G8联合会聚焦于从技术方面的方法来解决CO2排放问题。“但是，从法国和葡萄牙的税法优惠和激励政策对于控制CO2排放在引导消费者方面起到的积极主动的效果” Jato说。

虽然CO2的平均排放量，仍然未达到欧洲汽车制造商联合协会所预期的目标。但是数据显示，调查者补充到：前些年的减少量有了新的突破，欧洲在2012年达到120 g/km的目标最终会实现的机会非常大。

对比2007年，丹麦和芬兰今年平均新车CO2的排放量也分别以下降9.1% 和 7.7%值得关注。2个国家如果继续以此效率降低CO2的排放量，将轻松达到欧洲汽车制造商联合协会的目标。

国内经济发达和国人传统的偏爱大型，马力强劲的汽车的瑞士和德国，支持其它国家的行动。新车的CO2排放量上得到显著的下降，但是这两个国家或多或少的可能不能达到2012年的目标。

Jato补充到：“虽然大多数的国家没有达到欧洲汽车制造商联合协会所制定的2008年的目标，值得让人激动的是CO2的排放量总量有了巨大的下降，达到2012年的目标还是让人很乐观的。”

从瑞士和德国传来的信号表明：尽管消费者的购买习惯如此，科学技术在CO2的排放量的减少上起到了非常大的作用。纵览整个欧洲，我们的分析家指出了许多在在长远层面上，政策和科技同等强调能够带来积极改变。

燃料的消耗在引导消费者购买能有效利用燃料的汽车的时候仍然扮演相当重要的角色。

我们国家什么时候才能跟上步伐啊，感叹！汽车排出来的气体还是我们自己在呼吸啊。