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12 March 2008

King Review of low-carbon cars publishes final report

Professor Julia King today issues the final report of her Review of low-carbon cars. "Part II: recommendations for action" builds on the environmental challenges and opportunities for road transport set out in "Part I: the potential for CO2 reduction" published in October last year and makes recommendations for action to reduce emissions from transport in four key areas: reducing vehicle emissions; cleaner fuels; consumer behaviour; and research and development.

The King Review was launched by the previous Chancellor at Budget 2007, to examine the vehicle and fuel technologies which could help to decarbonise road transport, particularly cars, over the next 25 years. The Review has been led by Professor Julia King, working with Lord Nicholas Stern.

The final report published today recommends policy and actions for government, business and consumers, to deliver major CO2 reductions from road transport in the years ahead. Recommendations for the short and medium term are aimed at:

  • bringing existing low emission vehicle technologies from "the shelf to the showroom" as quickly as possible;
  • ensuring that consumer demand creates a market for these low emission vehicles;
  • moving the short-term focus of European policy back from biofuels to automotive technology;
  • ensuring that further biofuel developments are truly sustainable, based on our growing understanding of their indirect effects; and
  • ensuring the automotive industry has the right requirements and signals to deliver step-change technologies in the medium term.

The Review also makes a number of recommendations to enable the UK to play a leading role in low-CO2 automotive developments and seize the opportunities that a move to lower emissions road transport can offer:

  • as a location for high technology companies in the field, with good businesses support mechanisms encouraging inward investment, which has the potential to make a significant contribution to the UK economy;
  • collaborating with developing and emerging economies to enable them to introduce affordable low emissions technology at the earliest opportunity;
  • as a leader in key areas of underpinning science and engineering for future low-CO2 vehicles; and
  • as an influential international voice in promoting global solutions.

Launching the report, Professor Julia King said:

"My report today has a very positive message - that major reductions of CO2 emissions from road transport in the years ahead are possible. But seizing these opportunities will require action from everyone, with Government playing a leading role. Government must coordinate efforts in an international context and provide the leadership to allocate responsibilities amongst vehicle manufacturers, fuel companies and consumers. My report today sets out where the UK Government should take on a strong leadership role, both in driving European and international consensus and in national policy, where measures to incentivise smart consumer behaviour can be particularly effective.'

The report will be launched on Thursday 13th March at an event hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Notes for editors

1. The report, including an executive summary, is available on the Treasury website.

2. Part I: the potential for CO2 reduction's key findings were that:

  • almost complete de-carbonisation of road transport is a realistic long-term objective, through electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles. This will require major technological breakthroughs as well as substantial progress towards de-carbonising the power sector.
  • at low cost and by 2030, per kilometre emissions could be reduced by 50 per cent - equivalent to a 30 per cent reduction in the absolute level of emissions. These significant reductions in CO2 from road transport are achievable in the short term through progress on bringing new technologies to market and smart consumer choices such as buying a low-carbon vehicle, as well as some contribution from biofuels.
  • fuels must be considered on the basis of their life-cycle CO2 emissions. Biofuels can occupy a segment of the UK fuel market but care must be taken not to expand demand too quickly, before crop breakthroughs and robust environmental safeguards are in place.

3. Professor Julia King CBE FREng is Vice Chancellor of Aston University and former Director of Advanced Engineering at Rolls-Royce plc. She is working with Lord Nicholas Stern, who published the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (2006).

4. The King Review examined the vehicle and fuel technologies that could help "decarbonise" road transport, particularly cars. The full terms of reference can be found on the King Review website.

5. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Press Office on 020 7270 5238. There will be a launch event on Thursday 13th March hosted by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Anyone wishing to be invited should contact Nic Stevenson on the above number.

6. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558, or by e-mail to public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk

7. This press release and other Treasury publications and information are available on the Treasury website. If you would like Treasury press releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to this service from the press release site on the website.

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