Press release
Car firms must accelerate green action
16 March 2011
Commenting on today's report by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on the fuel efficiency of new vehicles, Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner Richard Dyer said:
"New cars may have become more fuel efficient over the past year - but the rate of progress has slowed.
"Improvements in the energy efficiency of new vehicles help save cash and cut emissions, but we must accelerate efforts to tackle the twin threats of rising fuel prices and global climate change.
"Over the years, car firms have regularly succeeded in weakening EU fuel- efficiency standards for new vehicles - our politicians must stand up to this short-sighted lobbying and set tougher targets when the regulation is reviewed in 2012.
"Next week's Budget is a golden opportunity to encourage greener motoring and cleaner transport alternatives - measures to make motoring cheaper will simply send the wrong signals about weaning the economy off fossil fuels.
"We're all paying the price for the nation's addiction to oil - we must force the motor industry to become a driving force in developing a cleaner, safer future."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. SMMT: New report demonstrates decade of CO2 emissions progress:
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Mar 2011
