Engineers, Not Politicians Hold Key To Sustainable Transport Solution

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A low carbon technology expert from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) insisted yesterday that engineers, not politicians hold the key to tackling climate change.

IMechE fellow and Chair of the Automobile division, Professor Richard Folkson delivered his key-note speech at the seminar ‘Tackling climate change through renewable energy: towards a low carbon economy’ held in London’s Kingsway Hall Hotel yesterday. Professor Folkson believes if low-carbon technology is to be successful, engineers must continue working towards providing viable solutions that are not only low-emission, but low in price.

Today’s average fleet car produces 160g/CO2 per km. Gordon Brown has set the target that by 2020 all cars should produce less than 100g/CO2 per kilometre. But Folkson argued that this does not go nearly far enough. “The problem with the 100g/km target is that CO2 levels will not stabilise, they will still continue to increase. A more accurate target is 70g/C02 per km, which takes into account population growth, and even this may not be sufficient.”

Professor Folkson was scathing about current government policies with regards vehicle emissions. Discussing the congestion charge, he stressed the need for legislation which actually hits low-carbon targets rather than merely rewarding drivers for using ‘green’ technology which may actually be limited in its effects. He also stressed those policies “tackling four by fours” were misguided as they only make up a tiny part of the market and that everyone needs to take responsibility for their carbon emissions if CO2 levels are to be stabilised.

Speaking of the debate around carbon emissions, Folkson suggested that “whilst engineering breakthroughs mean that the CO2 emissions of passenger cars are improving, transportation trends still raise serious concerns for sustainability. There is a definite need for continued improvement. A ‘business as usual’ attitude is no longer viable.”

Damning figures show that CO2 levels have increased from 280 particles per million (ppm) in 1750 to around 375ppm today. If nothing were done to halt climate change this would increase to 1000ppm with devastating environmental implications, such as sea levels rising and temperature rising of up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the world.

He stressed that the key is for engineers to strive to improve current low emission transport solutions such as hydrogen, hybrid and biofuel technology and asserted that while all are environmentally preferable to petrol or diesel, more must be done to make this technology socially and economically viable in the long term, for example in tackling the issues around land mass and food prices in the development of biofuels which, he suggested may “hit those countries least able to feed themselves hardest.”

It is crucial, he asserted that mass market vehicles are available which can “deliver the improvements with affordable technology. CO2 emissions and climate change are a total systems issue and not solely the responsibility of vehicle manufacturers. There is no one answer, and above all it is vital that this technology remains appealing, and accessible, to consumers”

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