Cut car carbon and make polluting cars a th9ing of the past - Fiona Hall MEP

10.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Jul 2008

Car manufacturers will have to take more responsibility for higher CO2 emissions brought on by more cars on European roads, if the European Parliament has its way.

The proposals to reduce new car emissions - which includes long term targets, a "green star" rating system and penalties on manufacturers who do not deliver - have been welcomed by North East Euro MP Fiona Hall as a first step, but Fiona is keen that the European Parliament goes further in the future.

She says: "Car manufacturers have failed to meet voluntary targets for producing more fuel efficient cars so tough targets are a necessity."

Therefore Fiona, who sits on the Research, Industry and Energy Committee in the European Parliament, has joined with The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s to support the launch of the "Mundo" Car campaign, which pushes for a reduction of CO2 emissions on new cars by 25% by 2012.

The European-wide campaign which saw supporters literally push cars through the streets in various European cities including London, challenges the car industry to design and build more fuel efficient cars which will be cheaper for the average person to drive.

Fiona said, "This is not rocket science. From both an environmental and economical standpoint we need cleaner and cheaper-to-run cars now. If we don't act soon people will be forced off the roads by astronomical prices and the effects of climate change will be irreversible.

"I urge the Government to take the lead on this issue to make sure polluting cars become a thing of the past."

More information about The Alliance Against Urban 4x4s can be found at http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/.

More information on the European wide "Mundo" car campaign can be found at http://www.mundo-cars.eu/ which includes a video and photos of a similar Mundo car campaign event in Brussels.