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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU 'should ban inefficient cars' | EU 'should ban inefficient cars' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The EU should ban the sale of cars that do under 35 miles to the gallon, the ex-chairman of oil giant Shell says. | The EU should ban the sale of cars that do under 35 miles to the gallon, the ex-chairman of oil giant Shell says. |
| Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC News the motor industry would adapt to cope with stricter environmental rules. | Sir Mark Moody-Stuart told BBC News the motor industry would adapt to cope with stricter environmental rules. |
| The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders opposes the idea, saying drivers of the most polluting cars pay extra through road tax and petrol duty. | The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders opposes the idea, saying drivers of the most polluting cars pay extra through road tax and petrol duty. |
| But Sir Mark said this simply let rich people avoid taking responsibility for tackling climate change. | But Sir Mark said this simply let rich people avoid taking responsibility for tackling climate change. |
| Expanding on the views he expressed in a BBC News website Green Room opinion column, Sir Mark said: "Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg. | Expanding on the views he expressed in a BBC News website Green Room opinion column, Sir Mark said: "Nobody needs a car that does 10-15mpg. |
| "We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg." | "We need very tough regulation saying that you can't drive or build something less than a certain standard. You would be allowed to drive an Aston Martin - but only if it did 50-60mpg." |
| Sir Mark's rule would apply only to new cars. Eventually, old polluting cars would die quietly of their own accord. | Sir Mark's rule would apply only to new cars. Eventually, old polluting cars would die quietly of their own accord. |
| While car-makers could improve the efficiency of many sports cars to meet such a target, they would struggle to get some heavy, luxury cars to qualify. | While car-makers could improve the efficiency of many sports cars to meet such a target, they would struggle to get some heavy, luxury cars to qualify. |
| The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders spokesman Nigel Wonnacott said drivers of polluting cars already paid extra through VED (road tax) and petrol duty. That was enough. | The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders spokesman Nigel Wonnacott said drivers of polluting cars already paid extra through VED (road tax) and petrol duty. That was enough. |
| Read Sir Mark's column | Read Sir Mark's column |
| Sir Mark said that, in addition to addressing inefficient cars, he also wanted very tough efficiency standards applied to other sectors, such as buildings and lighting. | |
| He added that the rich should not escape their responsibility to tackle climate change: "It is a social thing. We don't say the wealthy can avoid doing what is needed by society. | |
| "When we eliminated coal fires in London we didn't say to people in Chelsea you can pay a bit more and toast your crumpets in front of an open fire - we said nobody, but nobody, could have an open fire. | "When we eliminated coal fires in London we didn't say to people in Chelsea you can pay a bit more and toast your crumpets in front of an open fire - we said nobody, but nobody, could have an open fire. |
| "When we introduced catalytic converters the car-makers said it would put the price of cars through the roof - but it didn't. Now we all have to have catalytic converters - that's only right." | "When we introduced catalytic converters the car-makers said it would put the price of cars through the roof - but it didn't. Now we all have to have catalytic converters - that's only right." |
| Sir Mark - currently chairman of the mining group Anglo American - said his years in industry had taught him that the market would provide solutions if governments demanded them with enough conviction. | Sir Mark - currently chairman of the mining group Anglo American - said his years in industry had taught him that the market would provide solutions if governments demanded them with enough conviction. |
| Battle for opinion | Battle for opinion |
| "Government's job is to set the framework in which industry can compete," he added. "The market is a magical thing - it will meet people's convenience but it needs guiding." | "Government's job is to set the framework in which industry can compete," he added. "The market is a magical thing - it will meet people's convenience but it needs guiding." |
| He said the EU was far too lax with motor manufacturers. | He said the EU was far too lax with motor manufacturers. |
| Such comments from a leading industrialist will make an impact on the current European debate in which German car-makers are fighting to avoid being punished for continuing to build heavy cars. | Such comments from a leading industrialist will make an impact on the current European debate in which German car-makers are fighting to avoid being punished for continuing to build heavy cars. |
| They say jobs are at risk if they have to change their models. | They say jobs are at risk if they have to change their models. |
| Sir Mark says that with a growing world demand for cars, jobs lost in one polluting part of the industry will be more than replaced by jobs in a newer, cleaner part of industry. | Sir Mark says that with a growing world demand for cars, jobs lost in one polluting part of the industry will be more than replaced by jobs in a newer, cleaner part of industry. |
| His remarks may chime well with many of the public. | His remarks may chime well with many of the public. |
| Opinion polls consistently show that people are prepared to change their ways to tackle climate change - but only if their neighbours are forced to do the same. | Opinion polls consistently show that people are prepared to change their ways to tackle climate change - but only if their neighbours are forced to do the same. |
| This fact is regularly ignored by politicians fearing a potential backlash. | This fact is regularly ignored by politicians fearing a potential backlash. |
| They may find in future that it is less controversial for them to impose tough rules on everyone rather than to seek compromises to accommodate minorities. | They may find in future that it is less controversial for them to impose tough rules on everyone rather than to seek compromises to accommodate minorities. |
| Nigel Case, director of The Classic Car Club in London, said he supported Sir Mark's comments, in theory â but said that currently car-makers were not producing clean vehicles attractive to drivers. | Nigel Case, director of The Classic Car Club in London, said he supported Sir Mark's comments, in theory â but said that currently car-makers were not producing clean vehicles attractive to drivers. |
| He noted that the Lotus Tesla electric sports car was capable of 60 mph in around 4 seconds, and a top speed of 130 mph. | He noted that the Lotus Tesla electric sports car was capable of 60 mph in around 4 seconds, and a top speed of 130 mph. |
| "It sounds great," he said. "But we just can't get hold of one. If there were more cars like this available, it would make drivers feel good driving them." | "It sounds great," he said. "But we just can't get hold of one. If there were more cars like this available, it would make drivers feel good driving them." |