Archived press release

Government support for electric cars welcome - but far more needed to build genuine green future

16 April 2009

Commenting on the announcement today of grants of up to £5000 for people buying electric and hybrid cars, Friends of the Earth's transport campaigner Tony Bosworth said:

"The Government must slash emissions from UK transport if Britain is to meet its targets for tackling climate change."

"Financial support from the Government for electric cars is a welcome step in the right direction - these vehicles could play an important part in a greener future."

"However, electric cars are only as green as the electricity they run on - Ministers must take action to boost the UK's flagging renewable energy industry."

"Low carbon vehicles are certainly needed, but more extensive measures are needed to make the necessary cuts in transport emissions. Far more must be done to get people out of their cars by making public transport, cycling and walking more attractive options."

"Measures to tackle climate change must be at the heart of next week's Budget."

Boosting renewable energy, cutting energy waste and investing in greener transport could create tens of thousands of new jobs, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels - and show genuine international leadership ahead of crucial UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen later this year.

Notes:

1. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson and Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon today announced a package of measures for low carbon cars in the UK, including grants of up to £5000 for people buying electric cars and proposals to pilot car recharging infrastructure in UK cities.

2. Transport emissions account for a quarter of all UK emissions and are still growing. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to cut the sector's impact on climate change by:

· Massively increase walking and cycling for shorter journeys.

· Significantly increase the quality of public transport and make it far more affordable and accessible, to include improving the capacity and affordability of the rail network.

· Introducing decisive and hard hitting measures to create a shift to low carbon vehicles.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Chancellor to introduce a number of specific measures in next week's Budget including:

· Invest £1 billion a year for 10 years, to create world-class low carbon transport systems in 20 UK cities, funded by shifting spending out of the road building budget.

· The creation of a Carbon Reduction Fund supported by £5 billion, shifted out of the Transport Innovation Fund. This would prioritise and finance showcase carbon reduction transport projects.

· Introduce a limited car scrappage scheme to replace big gas-guzzling vehicles with the greenest models. The scheme should only support the purchase of the most fuel-efficient cars (new or second-hand), with a real saving between the car being scrapped and the car being bought; and demonstrate that it would lead to an overall carbon benefit, when carbon produced in manufacture and disposal are taken into account.

· Increase the differentials between the Vehicle Excise Duty bands to significantly increase road tax on gas-guzzlers and cut it for fuel-efficient vehicles.

· Measures to boost renewable energy and cut energy waste.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust