In June 2005, the UK's Royal Society and equivalent scientific bodies across the globe issued a statement. It said that the evidence for global warming was over-whelming and that increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere caused by non-natural sources, was to blame.

The motor industry accepts this conclusion unequivocally.

Being part of a problem means accepting responsibility to be part of the solution. And in this respect, the motor industry in the UK has a good news story to tell.

Huge improvements have been made in the environmental credentials of our products and production sites. Progress has been taking place over decades too, not just in the few years since climate change soared to the top of all our agendas.

Firstly, a little context. Road transport is a significant contributor to man-made CO2 emissions, but it is not the only source. In the UK road transport accounts for around 20.1 per cent: cars are responsible for 11.7 per cent and the other 8.4 per cent comes from vans, trucks, buses, coaches and motorcycles. This contrasts with emissions through energy production 35 per cent, domestic use 14 per cent and aviation 6.3 per cent, which is currently the largest growing source of man-made C02. None of us can ignore our role.*

So what exactly has the motor industry done to clean up its act

From production sites across the UK, energy use and CO2 emissions per vehicle produced have been halved in just four years. Water use too has been slashed while waste to landfill has been cut by a factor of four.

From products, average new car CO2 emissions have dropped by 12 per cent in nine years, thanks to investment in technologies like hybrids, biofuel cars, low-emission diesels and improvements in fuel economy. Things like direct petrol injection, stop-start technology, variable valve timing and exhaust gas recirculation have helped boost mpg, cutting harmful emissions.

SMMT is committed to reporting facts like these clearly and transparently through its annual Sustainability report. We were the first industry to publish a report of this type in 1999 and the eighth annual edition has now been published.

Good, bad or indifferent, figures on environmental performance are published as a matter of public record, open to scrutiny.

What of the future

Moving forward, more and more experts are convinced that an integrated approach is the best way to accelerate progress towards sustainable motoring. In other words, we have to work with government, fuel companies, Non Government Organisations and consumers to cut road transport's carbon footprint.

Consider what would happen if we didn't. Where would owners fill up hydrogen cars if the re-fuelling infrastructure were not in place

What benefit would ultra-low low CO2 cars present, if drivers spent twice as long in traffic jams with engines running

Would consumers be encouraged to use biofuel if it cost more at the pump

These are the sort of problems for which there are solutions - but only if we all work together.

Within the industry our appreciation of sustainability issues has improved. We understand things like the role of sustainable fuel production: there's no point in zero emission cars if production of their fuel is so energy intensive that it offsets the tailpipe benefits. We know that the 'in use' phase - when a vehicle is being driven - accounts for around 85 per cent of its carbon footprint, with 10 per cent coming from production and five per cent on disposal.

So as part of an integrated approach, clear advice for motorists is imperative. We support DfT's Act on CO2 campaign which itself follows the industry's own Drive Green Drive Safely campaign. Both encourage motorists to play their part in keeping emissions to a minimum, with helpful tips and advice.
In partnership with the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), SMMT and its members also introduced a colour-coded label in new car showrooms. This is now familiar to millions of new car buyers, making clear car-by-car comparisons on CO2 emissions and annual running costs, as well as tying the message that low carbon and lower cost motoring go hand in hand.

We know we have more to do. However, the industry's progress is real and tangible. Now we encourage all stakeholders to embrace the integrated approach to further C02 reductions. By working with others, the motor industry is part of the solution, helping deliver sustainable motoring into the 21st century and limiting the impact of climate change.

* Source: AEA Engineering and Environment 2005, data includes International Aviation (total emissions 503 million tonnes 2005)