Motor Industry Given CO2 Emission Reduction Target

A number of prominent international bodies have demanded that the motor industry reduces overall Carbon Dioxide emissions by 50% over the next four decades, through an initiative dubbed “50-by-50” (i.e. a 50 per cent reduction by 2050).

The number of cars being used around the globe is on course to have increased threefold by 2050, hence the calls for industry to counteract the effects of global warming – calls that figureheads at the current Geneva motor show have replied favourably to.

The four agencies backing the urge are the IEA (International Energy Agency), UNEP (UN Environment Programme), the FIA Foundation and the ITF (International Transport Forum).

“The world's car fleet is expected to triple by 2050 with 80% of this in developing economies”, UNEP’s executive director, Achim Steiner, stated.

“We would urge the world's car and component makers to get on board to prove that they too are part of the solution.”

The IEA’s Executive Director, Nobua Tanaka, added: “In confronting the economic recession this is a real opportunity for governments to combine support for the auto industry with measures to achieve environmental and energy policy goals.”

Future Electric Cars

In promotional material, the 50-by-50 campaign highlights the forecast increase use of electric cars, and how these figure within the emission reduction goal.

“Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and possibly hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are expected to become increasingly available in the near-to-medium term given recent improvements especially in batteries”, it says.

“However, these advanced technologies are not necessary to achieve the 50 per cent potential described here, but could result in further CO2 reductions and oil savings if they succeed in achieving mass-market commercialisation.”

The “...provision by the electricity sector of low-CO2 electricity” is a factor relevant to achieving these savings and decreases, the leaflet adds.

EU Carbon Emissions

According to the agencies, the initiative, if implemented, could generate savings of 6bn oil barrels each year, and, similarly, of an amount equal to 50 per cent of the CO2 emissions currently produced within the EU.

The Geneva motor show, according to FIA Foundation press and policy manager, Avi Silverman, would present an opportunity for those supporting the programme to discuss it with car firms including Nissan, Volkswagen and Toyota, as well as with maker of car parts like Valeo and Michelin.

Environmental News will provide further coverage of the 50-by-50 initiative as future facts emerge.