Greenpeace Australia-Pacific campaigner Violette Snow mentioned: “Australia is likely one of the solely nations on the earth with out gas effectivity requirements to manage local weather air pollution from vehicles.”
“This implies we’re open to previous, out-dated fashions which can be extra extremely polluting.”
Lively lobbying from automobile corporations in opposition to the transition to zero-emissions automobiles continues, the Greenpeace stories notes.
For instance, regardless of traders’ protests final 12 months, Toyota lobbied the Japanese authorities to make sure allowances had been made for hybrids in its upcoming financial coverage, permitting them to be counted equally alongside zero-emissions vehicles.
In its report, Greenpeace says Toyota – one of many world’s greatest and most trusted automobile producers – additionally has a global monitor file of lobbying in opposition to automobile air pollution requirements, and actively working to gradual the uptake of electrical automobiles.
In response, a spokesperson mentioned that Toyota was targeted on attaining a long-term and sustainable future because it moved to its final goal of carbon neutrality.
“Carbon is the enemy, and, as the biggest provider of hybrid automobiles in Australia – 290,000 offered since 2001 – Toyota Australia has made a major contribution to lowering automobile tailpipe emissions on this nation,” Greenpeace mentioned.
Not too long ago, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that automobile trade, by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, had launched a secret marketing campaign to delay Australia’s transition to electrical automobiles.
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Chamber chief government Tony Weber mentioned the physique had been calling for a federally led, authorities mandated carbon dioxide goal for the light-vehicle sector since 2020.
“We stay up for working with the federal government to develop a plan to cut back automobile emissions,” Weber mentioned.
Australia is likely one of the few nations within the Organisation for Financial Co-operation and Improvement with out nationwide requirements regulating carbon emissions of latest automobiles. The federal authorities is contemplating a nationwide electrical automobile technique, which would come with requirements.
Electrical Automobile Council spokesperson Behyad Jafari mentioned: “Like the remainder of the world, Australia is now lastly having a dialog about transition to ZEV.”
“Sure, there are voices attempting to muddy that with dialog … however we have to concentrate on how we finest encourage Australians to entry the automobiles they clearly need.”
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