Land Rover has announced the next significant step in its ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change with the introduction of a wide-ranging pilot CO2 offset programme, which will allow both Land Rover and its customers to contribute to a cleaner environment. It is the largest and most comprehensive programme of its kind ever undertaken by an automotive manufacturer in the UK.
The pilot has been established specifically for Land Rover and supports Ford Motor Company's £1 billion investment in the UK. The initiative will enable the development of environmental technologies across Ford and its Premier Automotive Group. The 3,000 engineers based at Land Rover's headquarters in Gaydon in Warwickshire will play a key role in developing the technology.
The pilot will run to the end of 2008, and it is estimated that Land Rover's CO2 Offset Programme will offset over two million tonnes of CO2 over the pilot period – equivalent to the CO2 generated by 125,000 average homes over the same period.
The programme has two key components: offsetting emissions generated by Land Rover vehicle assembly at its two production facilities in Britain; and providing a mechanism for customers to offset emissions from the use of their vehicle. The scheme is to be run independently by Climate Care, a highly respected CO2 offset provider, and will be overseen by a Governance Committee.
"This announcement is part of a multi-stage and ongoing approach by Land Rover to environmental care and sustainability," said Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover. "Our CO2 offset programme is the second demonstration from Land Rover in five months that it is helping to minimise the impact of its manufacturing processes and vehicles on the environment.
Land Rover's CO2 Offset Programme is part of an integrated approach to reducing CO2 emissions. The ultimate goal is CO2 neutrality and projects will include investment in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar, technology change and energy efficiency.
"Land Rover customers can be reassured that not only is their latest purchase more efficient and less polluting , but they are also part of a scheme to make immediate and real reductions through CO2 offset projects around the world," said Phil Popham.
• Climate Care, who will manage the Land Rover scheme, is one of Britain's most respected independent CO2 offset providers.
• Previous Climate Care initiatives have included wind turbines in India, installing low energy lighting in South Africa and providing renewable energy cooking stoves to schools in India.
A Governance Committee will oversee all aspects of the scheme's administration and implementation.
"It is our prime objective that everyone involved can see exactly how the scheme is being run and what benefits it is producing, both in terms of projects funded and offsetting of CO2," added Phil Popham.
Images of schemes currently undertaken by Climate Care can be found at www.climatecare.org.
