Anti-SUV drive off the political agenda

An initiative aimed at banning four-wheel drives has been withdrawn before it was due to come to a nationwide vote next year.

The youth wing of the Green Party, which had collected enough signatures for a ballot, said it decided to halt its campaign as a counter-proposal approved by parliament was better and could be implemented early next year.

In June both chambers of parliament came out in favour of an amendment which sets a limit for greenhouse gas output of 130-grammes per kilometer for new cars. A special tax is imposed for those with a higher output.

The initiative aimed to ban SUVs with an output of more than 250 grammes/km or weighing more than 2.2 tons.

However, the campaigners reserved the right to reconsider if the counter-proposal is challenged.

More than 123,000 signatures were collected in support of the initiative, which was launched in 2007.

The Association of Car Importers has welcomed the withdrawal of the initiative but criticised parliament’s decision to levy a tax on heavy polluters.