 Climate Change News
International Panel on Climate Change publishes Synthesis Report
The International Panel on Climate Change has published a 23-page 'Synthesis Report' which summarises the latest state of knowledge on climate science. It is the peer-reviewed work of several thousand scientists and is endorsed by the major governments of the world.
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Policy Developments
Environment Committee votes to add biofuels sustainability criteria to EU fuel directive
The European Parliament's Environment Committee has voted to support the Commission's proposal to add minimum sustainability criteria to the EU's Fuel Quality Directive.
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CBI calls for radical climate change measures
The next two or three years will be critical in the fight against climate change according to a new report published by the Confederation for British Industry. The CBI's Climate Change Task Force says that a much greater sense of urgency is required if the UK is to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at an affordable cost.
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Independent commission to examine green tax policies
A new, independent commission has been established to examine how green taxes can be used to help fight climate change. The Green Fiscal Commission, which will be comprised of senior MPs, academics, business people, consumer and environment organisations will report in March 2009.
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Prime Minister calls for 'new Marshall Plan' to tackle climate change
Gordon Brown has called for an effort equivalent to the post-war Marshall Plan which rebuilt shattered economies to set the country on a "historic and world changing" mission to build a global low carbon economy. In his first major speech on the environment as Prime Minister, Mr Brown said: "The climate change crisis is the product of many generations, but overcoming it must be the great project of this generation."
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Franco-German split deepens as Commission vows to stand firm on 2012 targets
Responding to the European Parliament's non-binding vote for a delay in new car CO2 targets, the European Commission has vowed to stand firm on its 130g/km target for 2012. In a related development, the split between French and German car makers over the regulatory treatment of smaller vehicles has widened, while the UK Government has indicated that it favours giving the industry more time to reach the target.
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Government publishes Climate Change Bill
The Government has announced the introduction of a Climate Change Bill which will make the Government's target of cutting CO2 emissions 60% by 2050 a legally binding target. The Bill is likely to include interim, but not annual, targets.
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Prof Julia King raises idea of 'feebates' to cut car CO2
Professor Julia King, whose interim report on de-carbonising road transport was published alongside the Pre-Budget, has raised the suggestion that subsidies towards the purchase of low carbon cars paid for out of taxes on 'gas guzzlers' could help to encourage the uptake of more efficient cars. Professor King floated the suggestion, which was picked up widely by the media, at a LowCVP/Waterfront conference on November 7: 'Promoting Low Carbon Vehicles'.
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DfT launches £20m low carbon van procurement programme
The Department for Transport has announced that it is making £20m available to support public sector procurement of low carbon vans with the aim of 'kick-starting' this part of the market. A further £30m is earmarked for the programme for 2008-11 should the initial implementation prove successful.
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Reports & Studies
UN issues 'state of climate' report in advance of crucial Bali meeting
The World could cut climate change emissions to a sustainable level by 2030 if it invested less than two-thirds of global military spending, or the equivalent of 1.6 percent of GDP. This is one of the conclusions of a 400-page report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) issued a week in advance of the major international conference on climate change to be held in Bali.
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Oxfam, Greenpeace reports critical of biofuels expansion
A report from Oxfam says that the EC's 10% biofuels target is creating a scramble to supply fuel in developing countries, posing a serious threat to vulnerable people at risk from land-grabbing, exploitation and deteriorating food security. A separate report by Greenpeace, meanwhile, points to an increased rate of forest clearance in Indonesia to increase biofuels supply.
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New US study says GHG benefits from hydrogen limited
A new study by the US-based Reason Foundation claims that making the switch from petrol to hydrogen cars would not help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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LowCVP News
LowCVP provides evidence to EAC Inquiry
The LowCVP has provided verbal evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee's current inquiry into the sustainability of biofuels. The LowCVP Director, Greg Archer, and Programme Manager, Jessica Chalmers, provided evidence to the cross-party committee of MPs on 20 November.
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Technology News
Waitrose launches cold-pressed biodiesel trials
Supermarket group Waitrose has announced that it will trial biodiesel derived from cold-pressed rapeseed oil with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its delivery vans.
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Shell says it hopes to be producing '2nd generation' biofuel in 5 years
Shell Oil Products US has announced plans to explore enhanced methods of converting biomass to biofuels by working on enzymes for extracting fuel from plant matter. Shell, working in collaboration with Codexis Inc, a California-based biotechnology company, says it hopes to be able to produce 'second-generation' biofuel within 5 years. Meanwhile, a Colorado-based company says it aims to begin production of a 'second-generation' fuel made from wood-chips next year.
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MIT develops low cost, electric 'stackable' City Car
Researchers at the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) are building prototypes of two low cost lightweight electric vehicles that can be cheaply mass-produced, rented by commuters under a shared-use business model, and which may be folded and stacked like grocery trolleys at train stations or other central sites.
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Industry News
Defra minister opens first UK bioethanol plant
Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has opened the UK's first bioethanol plant in Wissington, Norfolk. The plant is run by British Sugar and is located alongside the world's largest beet sugar factory. 70 million litres of bioethanol will be produced annually from 110,000 tonnes of locally grown sugar beet.
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Daf to trial hybrid trucks in UK
Truck maker Daf is putting seven hybrid vehicles on trial with customers in the UK from early in 2008. Daf is on the lookout for urban operators interested in taking part in the trial. Meanwhile, evidence is growing that commercial fleet operators want more CO2 and fuel economy data to be available for vans and commercial vehicles.
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Daimler and Ford buy Ballard's fuel cell business
Daimler and Ford have set up a joint venture to pursue development of emission-free fuel cells for cars and trucks as an alternative to petrol engines. The two companies have bought Ballard Power Systems’ automotive fuel cell business, including numerous patents and 150 employees.
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Vehicle manufacturers unveil new clean vehicles
Vehicle manufacturers Nissan, Honda and Renault have recently demonstrated the progress they are making on new, alternatively-fuelled vehicles. Nissan and Renault are jointly advancing electric car plans, while Honda displayed a hydrogen fuel-cell car which will be available to US customers on a 3-year lease basis.
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Other News
New online tool for fleet managers to monitor CO2 emissions
CAP Motor Research Ltd, experts in residual value data, is launching a new tool which will allow company car fleet managers to check the CO2 emissions of their vehicles and make comparisons to minimise CO2 impact.
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TfL to introduce more hydrogen fuel cell buses to London
A fleet of 10 hydrogen fuel cell buses worth nearly £10m has been bought by Transport for London to operate on the London transport network. The fleet, which will be the biggest of its kind in Europe, will be operated by FirstGroup on behalf of Transport for London.
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ASA upholds complaints over 'green' claims for Citroen C4
The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an advertisement for the Citroen C4 should not appear again in its current form. Viewers had challenged the advertisement's claim that the C4 was the lowest CO2 producer 'in its class' at 120g CO2/km.
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US car clubs merge to create organisation with 180,000 members
Zipcar and Flexcar, North America's two biggest car sharing services, have agreed to a merger which will create an organisation with 180,000 members and ownership of about 5,000 vehicles. Meanwhile, there are signs of a growth in interest in car sharing in the UK.
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Paul Everitt to be SMMT's new Chief Executive
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has announced that Paul Everitt will be its new Chief Executive, succeeding Christopher MacGowan who is retiring.
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LowCVP Member Profile:
Ricardo UK Ltd
Development of clean, efficient powertrain technologies. Strategic studies on low carbon technologies and policies.... more >
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