Lib Dems push for big pollution cuts from cars

9.30.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 2nd Jul 2007

Strong initiatives to cut pollution from cars both locally and at European level are being taken by Liberal Democrats, and have been warmly welcomed by London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford.

LibDem plans being put to the European Parliament propose tough targets on car manufacturers to curb carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from new cars, while Liberal Democrat-run Islington Council has won approval in a local referendum for green parking charges.

The European Parliament report will call for average emissions from new cars to be cut through technical improvements by more than a quarter by 2015, and by more than two-fifths by 2020, more environmentally ambitious than suggested in January by the European Commission. In Islington, residents have endorsed a plan whereby two-thirds will pay less than the current parking permit charge but the most polluting cars will pay up to £200 a year.

Sarah Ludford, a former Islington Liberal Democrat councillor, said:

"Liberal Democrats in Brussels and London are promoting policies which make green sense. Cars designed to go at crazy speeds are dirty as well as dangerous, being heavier - and thus fuel inefficient - in order to withstand crashes. With Europe worried about energy security and global warming, it is lunacy to approve gas guzzling cars to travel at law-breaking speeds."

"Liberal Democrat Islington Council are adding to their environmental lead by adding the ''Green Parking Charge' to their £3 million Climate Change Fund which invests in local carbon reduction projects. They have listened to residents who want real action, not just talk like from Labour and Tories."