Archived press release

Motorists urged to buy less gas-guzzling cars

1 September 2004

Motorists buying a new car this autumn can save money and help the planet by choosing energy efficient models, Friends of the Earth said today [1]. Hundreds of thousands of new cars carrying the new "54" registration plate, which goes on sale for the first time today, are expected to be sold this month.

Road transport is responsible for around 22 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions, the principal greenhouse gas causing climate change. The UK Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir David King has described climate change as a greater threat to the world than international terrorism.

Friends of the Earth's transport campaigner Tony Bosworth said

"Road transport is one of the principal sources of gases that are causing climate change, the biggest environmental threat the planet faces. Motorists can reduce their emissions and save money by choosing more fuel efficient models when buying a new car. And because the fuel consumption of similar size cars can vary by as much as 45 per cent, avoiding gas-guzzlers can lead to significant savings."

Friends of the Earth is also calling for:

• tough legal targets for fuel efficiency for new cars. The motor industry is behind schedule on (and highly unlikely to meet) a voluntary target to ensure that by 2008/9 new cars will on average release only 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Friends of the Earth is calling for the current voluntary target to be made legally binding and a tougher longer-term target to be set no higher than 120g/km by 2012 [2].

• The Chancellor to increase road tax for the most fuel-inefficient cars.

Notes

1. Motorists wanting information on the most fuel efficient cars should look at the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) website on New Car Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions Figures, which lists the fuel consumption, CO2, and other emissions performance figures of new cars, currently on the market in the UK:
www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/index.asp

2. New rules needed on gas guzzlers

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