Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Environmental Warnings on car advertisements? For or Against?

Cynthetiq · 06-10-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

View: EU mulls climate warnings for car ads
Source: Computing.co.uk
posted with the TFP thread generator

EU mulls climate warnings for car ads

The European Commission has this week launched a public consultation on controversial proposals that could require car manufacturers to make information on fuel consumption and carbon emissions a more prominent component of print adverts and other promotional material.

The proposed rules raise the prospect of cigarette packet-style health warnings on car adverts with manufacturers required to give over a certain proportion of all adverts to information on carbon emissions. The Commission is also reported to be considering a "traffic light" rating system whereby low-carbon vehicles carry green marks while the most polluting cars are designated with red marks.

The proposals, which also include rules that would require carbon emission data to be made available in all car showrooms, are subject to consultation but the Commission has signalled its intention to toughen up the rules governing car advertising.

It said studies have shown that the current CO2 labelling directive "is not working as well as it could and needs to be amended". It added that with cars accounting for 12 per cent of overall EU carbon emissions it is committed to ensuring that consumers have enough information to choose lower-emission vehicles.

The proposals have provoked uproar from manufacturers, advertising agencies and publishers who have all argued that the legislation is unnecessary.

A spokeswoman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that the UK car industry already had to adhere to strict regulation regarding the communication of fuel efficiency in adverts and as such further legislation was not required.

She also argued that the car industry was being unfairly targeted, noting that if CO2 warning labels are to be applied to car ads, there would be a case for similar rules being imposed on other carbon-intensive sectors such as airlines and IT. "You have to ask where it is going to end," she said.

However, environmental campaigners dismissed the industry's objections, claiming that manufacturers frequently fail to comply with the spirit of the existing regulations, often hiding CO2 data in the ad's small print and exploiting a loophole that allows CO2 figures to be omitted from "primarily graphical" information.

Friends of the Earth transport campaigner Tony Bosworth welcomed the European Commission proposals, arguing that it was important for consumers to have " clear and accurate carbon emission data to help them make decisions".

In related news, the SMMT this week provided further evidence that concerns over the environment and rising fuel prices are affecting car sales after data showed that new registrations of 4x4s last month fell 18 per cent compared to May 2007. In contrast, sales of mini-sized city cars climbed 12 per cent, while diesel car registrations rose 8.4 per cent.

Public consultation on the revision of the CO2 /cars "labelling" Directive 1999/94/EC click to show

Quote:

View: Public consultation on the revision of the CO2 /cars "labelling" Directive 1999/94/EC
Source: European Commission
posted with the TFP thread generator

Public consultation on the revision of the CO2 /cars "labelling" Directive 1999/94/EC
Cars are an important part of the daily lives of a large number of Europeans. However, car usage also has significant impacts on the environment and climate, with 12% of the overall EU emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas, coming from the fuel consumed by passenger cars. That is why the Commission has already proposed legislation to reduce the CO2 emissions from passenger cars to an average of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) by 2012, down from 160g/km in 2006. As part of the integrated approach, further legislative measures will contribute another 10g/km, leading overall to improvements of on average 120 g/km by 2012. An important flanking measure is to ensure that the buyers of new cars are informed about the fuel consumption and the associated CO2 emissions of these cars.

There is already legislation on consumer information, in the form of Directive 1999/94/EC. However, it has been found that the provisions in that Directive are not as effective as they could be. The Directive will therefore be revised. We would like to hear your views regarding consumer information on the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of new cars. They will be used as input for the proposal to revise Directive 1999/94/EC.

The results of this survey will be published on http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations_en.htm and will be part of the impact assessment which will accompany the above Communication.

This internet consultation will open on 02 June 2008 and will close on 28 July 2008. No further contributions will be accepted after that date. Please note that this consultation does not prejudge the final form of any decision to be taken by the Commission. The consultation should not be considered an opinion poll or a forum for voting about these issues. The Commission’s aim is to generate the widest possible range of views to inform the decision-making.

Thank you for taking the time to answer this consultation.

I don't belive this kind of thing will assist in imparting knowledge as to better car choices and selections. The showroom is for the rest of the information. If the automaker wants to do so, then they should do so on their own volition, not as a mandate to legislation.

I don't think this is right in the EU nor do I find it right in the United States.

I also don't believe that it's fair advertising. Since I only drive <8000 miles a year, I know that I don't produce as much CO2 as someone who drives 32,000 miles. In fact, if I own 2 cars and I drive only 1 of them then the net contribution of the 2nd car is ZERO, thus the car manufacturers are lying.

I also find this to be punitive to the automakers. If you want them to behave a particular way, then legislate for it. I don't agree in the pedistrian redesign of the fronts of vehicles for pedistrian safety. It's absurd on it's face, as well, the pedestrian isn't or shouldn't be in the road to begin with. Yet they saddled all the major manufacturers with the redisgn, yet somehow I don't see Lamborghini and Ferarri redisigning for pedestrian safety.