BRUSSELS, Feb 7: The European Commission unveiled a broad strategy to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars on Wednesday, proposing binding limits that automakers say will threaten jobs and lead to big price increases for consumers.

The European Union executive, a world leader in fighting climate change, is targeting car companies to help meet goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

“We will shortly be in a position not only to provide the safest and best cars but also the cleanest,” Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told reporters.

“This will mean that we will be leading the field for a very long time. No one else in the world comes anywhere close.”

The Commission said it would propose legislation by mid-2008 to force carmakers to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars to an average of 130 grams per kilometre (g/km) across the fleet by 2012 through improved engine technology.

—Reuters