FIA launches worldwide campaign for greener mobility

Publication date: 05 June 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 5th June 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Thinking green” is of importance to the motoring and touring clubs members of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). This is why the FIA is focussing its activities in 2008 on the interaction between the automobile and the environment.

On the 5th of June 2008, the FIA European Bureau organised a cocktail event, which is part of the global launch of the FIA “Make Cars Green” campaign. The aim of the campaign is to contribute to a reduction of the impact of cars on the environment and to help drivers to “think green” before and when they drive.

The “Make Cars Green” campaign is based on the FIA’s declaration on air quality, climate change, and automotive fuels economy adopted in 2007. The declaration calls for action by automotive stakeholders, industry, policy makers and consumers to act to reduce the impact of motoring on the environment.  The declaration outlines ways to: promote among others more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient vehicles and driver behaviour; reform motoring taxation with an emphasis on use rather than ownership; introduce new technologies to help motorists monitor their environmental impact; save energy through improved tyre design; and encourage the global use of unleaded and sulphur free fuels.

The launch date of the FIA “Make Cars Green” campaign coincides with the World Environmental Day and the Green Week of the European Commission whose aims it shares.

“The issue of climate change impacts on our everyday lives more and more. It is no longer simply the subject of high politics but rather an issue that impacts on our mobility, on how we drive and on how much it costs us to get from point A to point B.” said Thierry Willemarck Vice-president of FIA region 1 and CEO of the Touring Club Belgium. “However as an organisation representing national motoring and touring clubs, we owe it to our members to ensure that measures introduced in the name of climate change do not unnecessarily restrict mobility and really have a beneficial impact on the environment.”

For more information please contact Sinziana Radu Gille at s.radu@fiabrussels.com.

 Note to editors:

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) represents via its affiliated members, national motoring and touring organisations, over 100 million motorists worldwide and 34 million motorists in the European Union. The FIA and its member motoring clubs are at the forefront of the quest for sustainable mobility, making it, cleaner, safer and more reliable while keeping it affordable for all.