There are few things that seem to dominate the front page of the Drudge Report more than attacks on climate change science and fearmongering about European-style laws coming to America. So it was no surprise today to see Drudge hyping a story out of the UK which claims that the European Union plans to “ban” cars from its cities - which Drudge, of course, touts as a sign of a “NEW WORLD ORDER.”

Unsurprisingly, right-wing blogs quickly picked up the claim. Climate change skeptic Anthony Watts knocked the proposal, arguing that “it will [be] the EU that's banned by 2050, not the automobile.” Meanwhile, the Washington Examiner's Mark Tapscott asked, “How long before Big Green Environmentalists here demand the U.S. ban cars, too?”

The Telegraph story that Drudge links to reports that “cars will be banned from London and all other cities across Europe under a draconian EU masterplan.” However, while the EU's strategy document does call for a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sector, it does not banish all cars from urban areas.

What the European Commission white paper does propose is the “gradual phasing out of 'conventionally-fuelled' vehicles” -- defined as those “using non-hybrid, internal combustion engines” -- from major cities by 2050. From the paper:

Cities suffer most from congestion, poor air quality and noise exposure. Urban transport is responsible for about a quarter of CO2 emissions from transport, and 69% of road accidents occur in cities. The gradual phasing out of 'conventionally-fuelled' vehicles from the urban environment is a major contribution to significant reduction of oil dependence, greenhouse gas emissions and local air and noise pollution. It will have to be complemented by the development of appropriate fuelling/charging infrastructure for new vehicles.