Volkswagen pollution scandal may backfire on diesel

Paris

GERMAN giant Volkswagen's worldwide pollution cheating scandal threatens to backfire on diesel, the fuel that powers most new cars in Europe and is defended by manufacturers as a vital means to curb global warming.

Diesel spews out less heat-trapping carbon dioxide than petrol, the industry argues. But without sophisticated controls, the fuel may also emit harmful levels of poisonous nitrogen oxides and lung-clogging particles.