As the Geneva car show opened today, Greenpeace activists surrounded five featured models posing the question “what is a good car?” Branding the cars as ‘Engines of Climate Destruction’, Greenpeace is demanding that car makers, politicians and the public rethink what makes a good car, and set themselves on the path to a low carbon future.
Amsterdam,6th March 2008 - As the Geneva car show opened today, Greenpeaceactivists surrounded several featured models posing the question “what is agood car?” Branding the cars as ‘Engines of Climate Destruction’, Greenpeace isdemanding that car makers, politicians and the public rethink what makes a goodcar, and set themselves on the path to a low carbon future.
“For a century the car industry has sold us a dreamof faster, bigger, heavier automobiles. The climate crisis means the newcentury requires a new dream of cars. The industry has to find a new answer tothe question ‘What is a good car?’.” said Greenpeace campaigner Helen Perivier.
Greenpeace iscalling on the public to vote on the ultimate ‘Engine of Climate Destruction’and to cast a vote on the following nominees: the Flex Fuelled Volvo 70F, the Renault Clio 2.0,BMW 135i , The VW Golf Plus Comfortline 1.4 , and the Toyota Landcruiser 4.0 v6Executive.
Twelve years agoEuropean carmakers promised to bring down average emissions to 140g/km by2008-9. But car manufacturers’ progress in putting their cars on a carbon diethas come to a virtual standstill, while their promises have proven no more thana tactic to delay binding standards. <sup>1</sup> Despite the fact that wider use ofexisting technology and alterations to product ranges could make a hugedifference in a short time, car makers continue to evade their responsibilityto confront climate change.
Greenpeace iscalling on the EU to impose a fleet wide average fuel efficiency standard of120g CO2 per km by 2012, and to reduce this to 80g by 2020. Sincecar makers have failed to take the lead in meeting this challenge governmentsmust act to bring about these changes.
“The world doesn’t just need concept cars, itneeds immediate reductions in the fuel consumption of normal petrol consumingcars. The manufacturers claim to be offering choice, but really they’re justhiding behind some token green models and blaming the driver.” said Greenpeacepolicy advisor Franziska Achterberg.
Other contacts: Franziska Achterberg (Greenpeace Policy Advisor): +32 498 362 403Martin Lloyd (Spokesperson ): +31 646 197 324Vicky Wyatt (Press Officer): +44 7801 212 970
VVPR info: Photo-desk : + 31 629 00 11 62Video desk : + 31 6 461 97 322
Notes: [1] Under a voluntary agreement, Europe's car makers committed to bring back fleet average emissions from new cars to 140g CO2/km by 2008. Japanese and Korean car makers were to reach the same level by 2009. But by 2006, average emissions had not fallen below 160g CO2/km.Please see European Environment Agency, “Europe’s Environment / The Fourth Assessment”, 2007, p. 314-315 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/state_of_environment_report_2007_1/en