Archived press release

Government and industry must do more on greener cars

10 November 2005

On the day (Thurs 10 Nov) the UK Government hosts a major international conference on greener cars as part of its presidency of the G8 and the EU, Friends of the Earth has called on ministers to cut road tax on fuel-efficient cars and to do more to encourage manufacturers to produce and promote new models of greener cars.

The campaign group also says the car industry should do more to promote greener cars in line with its own voluntary target to reduce average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars sold in the EU. Research by Friends of the Earth shows car manufacturers mainly advertise gas-guzzlers, while energy efficient models are rarely advertised.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said:

"In hosting the conference the Government is recognising the impact the motor industry can have in tackling climate change but it must follow through. The Government needs to push for mandatory fuel efficiency targets for cars sold in the UK, and cut road tax on fuel-efficient cars and putting it up on gas guzzlers to help people buy greener cars.

The environmental campaign group surveyed car adverts in UK national newspapers in the first two weeks of the new `55' registration. More than half of all adverts were for the most polluting vehicles on sale.

Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner, Tony Bosworth, added:

"The motor industry is still encouraging motorists to buy gas-guzzling vehicles, despite mounting concerns about climate change and the rising price of oil, contradicting their claims to care for the environment."

Cars are ranked in six emissions bands, from A (the most fuel efficient) to F (the biggest gas-guzzlers). Despite high fuel prices, mounting fears about climate change and motor industry pledges to be acting in an environmentally sensitive manner, the survey found that:

• Over half (57.6 %) of all adverts were for cars in the two most polluting categories (VED bands E and F).
• Over a third (35.8 %) were for the biggest gas-guzzlers (VED band F)
• Only 3.1 % were for the cleanest cars (VED bands A and B)

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to do more to encourage the manufacture and use of greener cars by:

• Pressing for mandatory targets to reduce average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars sold in the EU. The current voluntary agreement between the EU and the European car manufacturers is failing to reduce emissions significantly and will miss its target [4].
• Announcing a cut road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) to zero for the greenest cars and an increase for the worst gas-guzzlers to £600 a year by 2008 in this month's Pre-Budget statement [5]. Earlier this year, the environmental campaign group revealed that motorists can save hundreds of pounds in fuel costs by choosing more fuel efficient cars

Notes

1. The Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference will be held in Birmingham on 10^th-11^th November. The conference website says "as part of the United Kingdom's Presidency of the G8 and the European Union, the Department for Transport will host an exchange of best practice on how to encourage development and commercialisation of clean, fuel-efficient cars. Chaired by UK Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling, the two-day event will focus on how policy makers and industry can develop a market for more efficient vehicles as a way of reducing their contribution to air pollution and climate change".
2. For more details see the conference website at http://livegroup.co.uk/efvc/index.php?view=introduction
3. The car industry's trade association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says that "The UK automotive industry fully recognises the importance of the climate change issue and is committed to improving the environmental performance of its products and processes" and claims that diesels and superminis would "lead 55 number plate charge".
4. The motor industry has resisted mandatory fuel efficiency regulations. In the mid 1990s, it agreed a voluntary target to reduce average carbon dioxide emissions from new cars sold in the EU to 140g/km by 2008. However it is very unlikely to meet this target: two-thirds of the way through the period of the target, only one-third of the improvement required has been made, and the rate of progress is slowing down.

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