One of the most important and innovative of the recommendations in the Declaration is the call by the FIA for the adoption of a global emissions benchmark of 140g of CO2/km.  If such a target was adopted it would pave the way as a benchmark from which credits could be traded. 

The call for a benchmark allows the FIA to go beyond the debate currently occurring in Europe on regulatory limits to CO2.  The FIA supports the European Commission’s efforts to reduce levels of CO2, and clearly the EU must define its own policies.  But over the next 20 years the global car fleet is set to double to over 1.2billion vehicles and the majority of this growth will occur outside Europe, in emerging markets such as China and India. 

The levels of CO2 emissions of cars in these markets are not yet known so it is important for policy makers not to limit their policy to regional structures. Rather, they should recognise that there is a need to look at the evolution of the global automotive market to develop a policy framework that is global and can be applied to the rapidly motorising nations.

A global benchmark of 140g/CO2 would allow policy-makers to finally have a true picture of global CO2 emissions.  This could allow manufacturers to produce more fuel efficient cars across their entire fleets.

Mobile consumers understand they have a part to play and will do so as long as they feel they are being fairly treated.  This is why the Declaration does not confine itself to the technical aspects of emissions reductions, as it also focuses heavily on what the consumer can do.