Industry progress highlighted in climate change report

A report published by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) concludes that more needs to be done to meet the 2025 greenhouse gas emissions target, but has praised the efforts of UK automotive in tackling climate change.

While the report outlines the need for the UK’s total emission levels to fall by 3% each year to meet targets, it also highlights the ‘good progress’ being made within the UK’s automotive industry, which has seen new car CO2 emissions fall over 20% since 2000 to 144.2g/km CO2 in 2010.

“Industry is committed to improving its environmental performance and while there is still more to do, today’s report demonstrates the good progress made by the automotive industry,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

“Investment in low and ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies has delivered impressive reductions in CO2 emissions, but sustained action, to support research and development, new infrastructure and consumer incentives will be essential if we are to sustain and improve the rate of progress.”

The 2009-2010 Scrappage Incentive Scheme, coupled with ongoing investment low carbon technologies across the sector, saw emissions drop as reported by CCC. Since then industry has continued to drive down emissions, leading to the lowest-ever new car CO2 level, with the first quarter of 2011 recording just 140.2g/km CO2.

While further reductions will become increasingly difficult to achieve through advances in engine technology, industry is introducing driver behaviour aids such as gearshift indicators and interactive driver monitoring software to maintain the downward trend in emissions.

SMMT’s New Car CO2 report, published earlier this year demonstrates the automotive industry’s transition to low and ultra-low carbon vehicles. Last year almost 40% of new cars registered emitted less that 130g/km CO2, which is the European fleet emissions target for 2015.

Click here to download the SMMT New Car CO2 Report 2011.