Carbon claptrap?

1:19am Tuesday 19th February 2008

First published February 15, 2008

A FEW months ago, a report was widely quoted about the "true" carbon emissions of a car.

As reported in a couple of pretty respected publications, researchers claimed some cars which appeared greener because of exhaust emissions, more than made up for it by being more complicated - and carbon costly - to make in the first place.

So on balance, some 4x4s could actually work out better in the long run than small, modern cars.

I now read, yet again in a respected publication, this is nonsense.

The original idea that you didn't have to spend loads on a shiny, hi-tech but perhaps rather dull vehicle to be a bit more green was rather appealing.

After all, when we're constantly told that being environmentally friendly is all about spending money, the cynics among us tend to get a bit suspicious.

Now, though, I don't know what to believe.

Actually, I do.

I believe it's time a proper organisation, similar to NCAP, was set up to truly compare and contrast all the cars for their cradle to grave environmental impact.

NCAP, or Euro NCAP to give it its proper name, rates car safety by testing models to destruction (admittedly not a particularly environmentally-friendly activity).

So, say I'm planning to buy a new small family car.

I can go and look on the NCAP website and see which cars get the most stars out of five for passenger safety, child safety and pedestrian safety.

Now if someone could accurately create a system of "green stars" to add to those, I think it would be pretty influential - and helpful - in these rather confusing times.

Speaking of safety, I just experienced a very novel way of dealing with a zebra crossing.

As I, as a pedestrian, was about to step on to the crossing, a car approached but didn't stop. Instead, the driver sailed past giving me a cheery wave.

It was hard to be too annoyed - but it's not a tactic to try too often.

I don't think a cheery wave to a speed camera would get you out of trouble breaking the speed limit, or indeed if you actually ran someone over.

EDITOR'S CHOICE