UK manufacturing has made significant progress in cutting CO2 emissions, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) 11th annual sustainability report.
While the 30% drop in vehicle production halted the per vehicle reduction, total energy use and CO2 emissions continued to fall in 2009 down 20% with average new car emissions falling to their lowest ever level of 149.5g/km, down 21.2% during the past 10 years said the SMMT.
The report, which highlights progress in social, environmental and economic sectors of the motor industry through 2009, will demonstrate that despite challenging economic conditions, last year, automotive accounted for GBP23.8bn (US$37.4bn) of the UK’s total export values and still employs more than 700,000 people.
“The motor industry demonstrated its strength and resilience through the economic crisis and now has a major role to play in a rebalanced economy,” said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.
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“The recent string of global investments in the UK-based development and production of low carbon technologies are indicative of the longer-term strength of the sector.”
Everitt also called for the UK’s radical attempts to address its budget to take account of the auto industry.
“[The] Comprehensive Spending Review must support and incentivise private sector investment in R&D, skills and capital equipment to allow industry to fully exploit the global opportunities emerging from the new focus on manufacturing in the UK,” he said.
In particular, the report shows vehicle manufacturers continue to make significant reductions in the environmental impact of their products throughout the whole lifecycle of the vehicle, with 12 times more waste recycled than ending up in landfill.
