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Greener cars needed to meet climate targets

02 December 2008

Motorists should start driving more environmentally responsible vehicles if climate change targets are to be met, according to an influential group.

The Committee on Climate Change, an independent body that will advise on the UK's five-yearly carbon budgets, will recommend in a report to be published today that Britons should be urged to move away from heavy carbon emitting vehicles.

Currently the average Briton generates up to 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, but to meet the requirements of the Climate Change Act, will have to bring that down to two tonnes annually.

According to these calculations, the Telegraph reports that a typical family car would use up a persons daily allowance about 12 pounds after driving 25 miles.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calculated in 2005 that road transport accounted for 22 per cent of the UK's total carbon emissions.

In order to cut the CO2 emissions from transport, the government has launched a £100 million scheme to promote electrical vehicles, which includes giving organisations and local authorities trial models.

Find out how the Energy Saving Trust work as fleet consultants