Stand up to Porsche
On 20 February 2008, German luxury car manufacturer Porsche announced they were planning to take legal action against the new emissions-based Congestion Charge, which was confirmed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone on 12 February. Sign the petition below to register your objection to Porsche's actions.
To: Andy Goss, Managing Director, Porsche Cars GB
Cc: Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO, Porsche Germany
Climate change is the gravest threat facing human kind. A range of different measures is needed to avoid the worst consequences. Cutting pollution from cars is one vital strategy.
With this in mind, the Mayor of London proposes a £25 per day charge on gas-guzzling cars* in London's congestion zone. Porsche, the high performance car manufacturer, has threatened legal action to stop the CO2 Charge.
Policy on tackling pollution in London is a matter for Londoners, not car companies. We support the CO2 Charge and demand Porsche drop their court action.
* All VED band G vehicles above 225 g/km of carbon dioxide, including the worst 'Chelsea Tractors'
Petition supported by:
Tony Juniper, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
"Cutting carbon dioxide emissions is now an urgent priority and all sectors of the economy and will need to play a part in that process. Porsche has founded its business on the promotion and supply of highly polluting vehicles. Along with the rest of the German car industry they are desperately resisting the strong measures needed to tackle the car industry's contribution to climate change. Instead of spending time and energy battling these popular initiatives, such as the congestion charge, it would be more appropriate for Porsche to put its effort into making a new generation of much less polluting vehicles."
Dr Douglas Parr, Chief Scientist at Greenpeace UK
"It's absolutely right that high emitting cars should have to pay more to reflect their environmental impact, and that the Congestion Charge makes owning cleaner cars more attractive. People are now realising that buying a gas guzzler is becoming a bad idea - both for the planet and the wallet."
Cllr. Jenny Jones AM, Green Party Group, London Assembly
"I think it's mad that a manufacturer of fast, dirty cars should try to tell Londoners how to think on what's best for London. If we want to improve our quality of life by detering polluting vehicles, then they should respect that. Why on earth can't they wait for us to decide the issue for ourselves in the election?"
Nicky Gavron AM, Deputy Mayor, Labour Party, London Assembly
"Londoners should be the ones who decide what measures are taken to combat climate change in their city, not a luxury car manufacturer. They will have the chance to do that at the ballot box on 1 May. What Porsche are trying to do through the courts is to deny Londoners the opportunity to make that democratic decision."
Add your name here:
If you would like to contact Porsche directly, you can do this by email at customer.assistance@porsche.co.uk or telephone: +44 8457 911 911
More details of the CO2 Charge and Porsche's threats on these sites:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/feb/19/
travelandtransport.carbonemissions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/feb/20/london08.climatechange
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/tony_juniper/2008/02/
porsche_you_have_a_problem.html
See what can you do for other ways to help beat the menace of urban 4x4s