Climate Change, often referred to as Global Warming, is considered to be one of the greatest environmental threats facing the World today.

When petrol, diesel or certain alternative fuels are burnt for energy in an engine the main by-products are water and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Carbon Dioxide, although not directly harmful to human health, is the most significant of the greenhouse gases contributing to Climate Change. Cars make a significant contribution to overall emissions of CO2 in the UK. Additionally, and especially in urban areas, road transport is also one of the major sources of emissions which are harmful to human health.

Use our Pollution Calculator to learn how much CO2 and other emissions your car produces. First select your type of vehicle...

Passenger Car 4 X 4 Truck
Your Vehicle's Current Odometer Reading:
How many miles do you drive each year:
Now enter your email address below and press submit and we will email you your results:

Carbon Dioxide is the most important of the greenhouse gases which are contributing to Climate Change. Unless action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as Carbon Dioxide, the whole pattern of the World's weather could change, increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms.

Compared to improvements in the emissions of toxic pollutants, there has been less progress on reducing CO2 from cars. For a given type of fuel the CO2 emissions of a car are directly proportional to the quantity of fuel consumed. Until recently the average fuel consumption of new cars was unchanged relative to that in the mid 1980’s. This was because while engines have become more efficient over this period, average vehicle mass has increased due to additional features to meet crash safety requirements and the widespread addition of features such as power assisted steering and air conditioning. However, there are signs that in the last few years average fuel consumption has begun to drop in response to voluntary agreements by vehicle manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions.

There is no easy technical way to deal with CO2. The best way to reduce it and the other emissions is to use the car only when it is necessary and to walk or use public transport where possible. When you are choosing a vehicle and you have selected the most appropriate class of vehicle for your needs, choose the most fuel efficient vehicle in that group. The fuel consumption of similar size cars can vary as much as 45%.

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