Greenpeace launches a campaign for mandatory fuel efficiency standards by demonstrating the high CO2 emissions of cars in India. CO2 a major greenhouse gas is the biggest contributor to climate change
"The simplest first step the government and industry can take
together to combat the twin threat of climate change and energy
security, is to implement a fuel efficiency law now", said
Soumyabrata Rahut, Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner.
Greenpeace believes that the time for rhetoric on mandatory Fuel
Efficiency norms is over, and that the statement made in the Energy
Efficiency Mission of the recently announced National Action Plan
on Climate Change (NAPCC), needs to translate to action. "The
soaring fuel prices and the fiscal losses that the Government is
facing today should add to sense of urgency on this front", added
Mr Rahut.
Statistics from the Indian Automobile Association rate India as
the 2nd fastest growing market (14% CAGR) for cars globally which
will lead to an incredible surge in fuel consumption and CO2
emissions in the next few years. According to Greenpeace,
legislation for progressive mandatory fuel efficiency is a critical
step required to tackle the fuel crisis that the country faces with
a booming car population. India already imports 78% of its crude
oil needs, which will rise to 94% by 2030 as estimated by
International Energy Agency. "India's need for energy efficiency,
renewables and environmental conservation has gained greater
urgency in light of the spiralling price of crude oil", said Mr
Rahut.
While consumers are aware of and even troubled by the noxious
fumes and the pollution that vehicular emissions cause, they are
not completely aware of the fact that vehicles emit CO2, a major
GHG (greenhouse gas) which is the biggest contributor to global
warming. As part of the campaign, Greenpeace has launched a
14-city* nationwide awareness and petitioning drive for consumers
to support the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in tabling the fuel
efficiency legislation without any delay.
Automobile manufacturers pass their vehicles off as "green" by
following Euro emission standards, however, the emissions norms
factor in only toxic pollutants and not CO2 emissions. Greenpeace
demands that the onus should squarely be on auto manufacturers to
deploy technology to reduce CO2 emissions drastically.
Auto manufacturers today refuse to divulge official figures on
mileage and CO2 emissions to the consumers. "As a matter of
priority, manufacturers must stop hiding information about their
vehicles' contribution to climate change. In today's time,
consumers buying cars should be aware of the environmental impacts
of their purchase decisions", Mr. Rahut said, while pointing out
that India would not be the first country to do this, but would
only be following the global trend. Vehicular fuel efficiency and
CO2 emissions regulation is in practice in different countries
including in the EU, China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Greenpeace demands:
• Mandatory "CO2 emissions labelling" on all new cars in the
Indian market, to enable consumers to make informed and responsible
car buying choices
• Mandatory CO2 emission standards for the industry, which will
require car manufacturers to progressively reduce CO2 emissions
from new cars to achieve a fleet efficiency of 80 gm CO2/km by
2020
* Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune,
Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Nagpur, Cochin, Lucknow, Goa, Noida,
Navi Mumbai
For more information: Soumyabrata Rahut: Climate Campaigner: +91
9845535403 srahut@greenpeace.org Shweta Ganesh, Greenpeace
Communications: +91 9845068125 Shweta.ganesh@greenpeace.org
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