Policy Developments

EU announcement on mandatory targets provokes varying responses

The European Commission's proposals for for limiting average new car CO2 emissions to 130 grams per km by 2012 have produced widely varying reactions from motor manufacturers, environment groups and other stakeholders.

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Department for Transport 'failing on key targets' - Transport Select Committee

The Transport Select Committee, the body of MPs responsible for scrutinising the Government's performance in the area of transport, says that the Department for Transport is failing to meet five out of seven of its key public service targets. One of the five targets being missed is for greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emission reductions to tackle climate change.

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Commission proposes new fuels standards to reduce climate impacts

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of new standards for transport fuels that will reduce their contribution to climate change and local air pollution. The new standards are likely to include a requirement to cut greenhouse emissions arising during the production, transport and use phases of each fuel's 'life-cycle'.

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Government changes tone on road pricing as 1.7m sign anti-charging petition

The Government says that plans for pilot road pricing schemes are not neccessarily steps towards a national strategy. The statement from Downing Street followed the signing of an e-petition in opposition to road charging by 1.7m people.

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LowCVP News

New LowCVP website and e-newsletter launched

The LowCVP has a new website with some new sections and enhanced functionality. The new site will continue to feature the latest news and other developments relating to low carbon vehicles and fuels. A new, upgraded e-newsletter is also introduced to bring the latest news direct to your inbox.

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Reports & Studies

New report reviews policies for cutting transport CO2

The European Conference of Ministers of Transport(ECMT) has published a new report which reviews the progress OECD and ECMT countries have made in reducing transport sector CO2 emissions and makes recommendations for the focus of future policies.

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Future oil supplies to come from lower quality, energy intensive sources

A report from Wood Mackenzie, a leading oil and energy consultancy, concludes that there are 3,600bn barrels of oil and gas available in 'unconventional sources' such as oil sands and tars but that extracting these resources will itself take a lot of energy.

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Firms understate greenhouse emissions - Christian Aid report

Some of the UK's biggest companies are significantly understating the amount of greenhouse gases they produce according to a new report by Christian Aid. The charity has also launched a campaign to persuade the Government to commit to cutting the UK's CO2 emissions by 5% a year and thus reducing the impacts of climate change on developing countries.

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Industry News

Volkswagen to develop ultra-small car and produce hybrids

Volkswagen is planning to market a cheap, ultra-small car for sale in Europe. VW also plans to begin producing hybrid versions of two of its best selling small cars.

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Oil industry hostile reaction to European Commission biofuels proposals

The European petroleum industry has reacted to EU plans for increased biofuel use, calling them a 'bureaucratic nightmare'.The reaction comes following the European Commission's recent proposals that there should be a mandatory 10% minimum target for biofuels by 2020.

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Biodiesel industry says cost constraints may lead to non-sustainable fuel imports

The British biodiesel industry has told the Treasury that rising feedstock prices and the fall in the price of crude oil since last year have put the industry under serious pressure. Industrial representatives said that the 20p/litre fuel duty reduction for biofuels is not sufficient to bridge the cost difference between biodiesel and conventional diesel.

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Climate Change News

IPCC Scientists say fossil fuel use is main cause of climate change

In the first of four reports to be published this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that the main source of increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere is fossil fuel use and that it is 'very likely' that climate change is induced by human activity.

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International Developments

Ireland sets ambitious targets for biofuels introduction

The Irish Government is proposing to radically increase the share of biofuels used in transport. They say that biofuels should make up 5.75 per cent of transport fuels by 2009, rising to 10 per cent by 2020.

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Germany and Portugal plan introduction of carbon-based car taxes by 2008

Germany and Portugal have separately announced plans to change their systems of car taxation to link the level of taxes with emissions of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants from vehicles. The Portugese plans are set to come into force in July 2007 while those in Germany could be approved by the German parliament by the end of the year and be enforced in 2008.

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Other News

Driving test candidates to be quizzed on environment impacts of motoring

Learner drivers will need to answer questions about the environmental impacts of cars in order to pass their driving test after September 3 this year. From that date the UK driving test will feature multiple choice questions examining candidates on subjects from smarter driving (eco-driving) techniques to the emissions and safety impacts of higher speeds.

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All-Party Parliamentary Biofuels Group launched

An All-Party Parliamentary Renewable Transport Fuels Group has been launched to raise the profile amongst Parliamentarians of the potential for renewable transport fuels.

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'Smart Mobility': low carbon vehicles and fuels supplement to The Times

Media Planet plans to publish a ‘Smart Mobility’ supplement which will be distributed inside The Times Newspaper on April 25th. The publishers, who aim to highlight low carbon fuels and vehicles and other mobility solutions in the supplement, are offering discounted advertising/sponsorship rates to members of the LowCVP.

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Big growth in greener marketing predicted by advertising agencies

The UK's largest advertising agencies are expecting a rapid growth in eco-marketing as businesses compete on their environmental claims. According to a report in the Financial Times, some agencies are even arguing that becoming involved in greener approaches to marketing could become a matter of their very survival.

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Consultations

DfT announces RTFO consultation

The Department for Transport has announced a consultation on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), and how it will operate. Under the RTFO the Government aims for 5% of all the fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source – primarily biofuels - by 2010 and 3.75% by 2009.

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Events

Developing Biofuels Sustainably: Can it be Done?
17th Apr 2007

Biofuels and sustainability will be the focus of a joint Waterfront/LowCVP conference on 17 April at the Mayfair Conference Centre, London.

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Emissions Trading and the Road Transport Sector: A one-day conference
1st May 2007

There are a few remaining places for the LowCVP/Energy Institute one-day event to discuss the latest thinking on the prospects for introducing a carbon emissions trading system to the road transport sector. LowCVP members receive a £100 (35%) discount on the full delegate fee for the event.

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