Write to your MP and MEPs for better clean car targets in Europe

Never mind fuel duty - what we need is fuel-efficient cars

The Alliance is joining the international Mundo Cars campaign to urge MEPs and MPs to come to the aid of struggling motorists by pushing for much more fuel-efficient cars.

In the EU, the car industry is lobbying to block regulations that would make vehicles significantly less costly to run, having failed in recent years to reduce emissions according to their voluntarily agreed targets.

In London, Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Madrid, campaigners launched the campaign by pushing a white-covered 'Mundo' car together with local MEPs who support the push for a target of 120g of CO2 / km by 2012.

How to help the campaign:

1. Write to your MEP and MP, asking them to support the target of 120g/km by 2012
Find your representatives at writetothem.com

2. Sign up to the mundo cars campaign here

3. Take a photo of you and your friends pushing your own car and send it to the campaign here

More about Mundo-Cars and our launch event:

The EU is discussing regulations to reduce the CO2 emissions of new cars by 25 per cent to 120g CO2/km by 2012. However, European officials have come under mounting pressure from car manufacturers to weaken and delay proposed legislation.

If all cars met the standard of the most fuel efficient models in their class already on the market, the proposed 2012 target could be reached today.

In London, the Alliance was joined at their launch by Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London, while Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for South-East England sent a video message. Labour MEPs Robert Evans and Claude Moraes, and LibDem MEP Fiona Hall also sent messages of support.

Campaigners have also produced a video to launch the campaign, in which car drivers at petrol stations are interviewed about their concerns about rising fuel prices and the need for better cars.

Alliance Managing Director, Blake Ludwig said: "We have developed the imaginary 'Mundo' car brand as a platform for a European-wide campaign to harness people power, Our car has a white cover over it simply because the clean cars we so desperately need have yet to be designed. We are encouraging car manufacturers to think big and be bold – and only when the EU and the UK Government push for stringent fuel efficiency targets will this happen in a creative and radical way."

"With fuel prices escalating, there is both an economic and an environmental necessity for cleaner cars. For our launch film we interviewed people who were filling their tanks up at fuel stations. They were horrified about how much they have to spend on petrol and all agreed that they would be willing to pay more for a more fuel-efficient car if they would then pay less for fuel. The public are ready for the cars of the future – now the EU and UK Governments must push for stringent CO2 targets."

"The automobile designers are the captains of the ship, not the consumers. The industry signals the intention and the direction of the market. To date they have been designing highly polluting and consuming vehicles. But times are rapidly changing, and we need a whole new evolution in the approach to making and powering a car, and that needs a heroic effort."

Find out more: www.mundo-cars.eu

Messages from supporters of the Mundo Cars campaign:

Jean Lambert Green MEP: "Londoners are forced to live with poor air quality on a daily basis and suffer the health effects of road transport pollution. Enough is enough. There is no place for highly polluting cars in London where air quality consistently fails basic EU standards.

"I encourage citizens and politicians to support this campaign for stricter fuel efficiency standards. The car industry should be making use of the full range of technology to make cleaner cars and the Government must support this change by introducing tough targets and penalties for those unwilling to reform."

Robert Evans, Labour MEP: "The time for action on climate change is now. We cannot wait any longer for the effects to be seen across the world and so I urge everyone, public and politicians alike, to support strong targets on C02 emissions from cars. We must do more to discourage the highest carbon producing cars so that we can all tackle climate change before it is too late. Experts suggest the changes might be irreversible in just seven years time."

Caroline Lucas, Green MEP: "The point is it's not rocket science. Some cars have the ability to meet the 120g/km standard now so the technology does exist. That's why the Mundo Cars campaign is so important. It demonstrates what the car of the future could be like. I think it's an inspiring idea and an inspiring campaign. I urge people to get involved and be part of the solution."

Fiona Hall, Lib Dem MEP: "Some 19% of all Europe's carbon emissions come from passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles. Absolute volumes are increasing because there are more cars being put on the road. The vehicles are heavier (up 15% in the past decade) and more powerful (up 28%) even though speed limits have not risen anywhere in Europe. We now need to set mandatory requirements to make a difference. [Recently] I argued that the Commission's proposals did not go far enough and that the regulation should push for average fleet emissions of 120 g/km by 2012 achieved by vehicle improvements alone. Such targets would only be achievable with consequent penalties, which would put pressure on the manufacturers."

Claude Moraes, Labour MEP:"We believe that the car industry has had a long time to clean up its act and while progress has been made it has not been sufficient. Time has come for strict mandatory targets to be put in place as soon as possible."

Alexis Rowell, Liberal Democrat Councilor for Camden : "The cars that we use must be as environmentally friendly as possible. Only government can ensure this. Only government can set the standards. They must do this otherwise eco cars will remain a niche rather than the universal good that we need them to be."

Katie Dawson, Green Party Councillor for Islington: "The time has come for the Government to show leadership in regards to the car industry by setting clear `targets' around fuel efficiency. Consumers are demanding more efficient vehicles and the technology exists to deliver these changes. What is now needed is the political will to make cleaner cars the norm rather than the exception."