Formula for the Environment offers an in-depth explanation of the environmental challenge faced by the automotive sector, followed by a break-down of the roles that must be played by both FIA Mobility and FIA Sport in tackling this problem.

Air quality and climate change are the two primary concerns when it comes to the environmental challenge, and motoring impacts on both. Although substantial progress has been made in controlling automotive toxic emissions, through the removal of leaded fuel and promotion of desulphurised fuels, air pollution remains a major problem in many developing countries.

Since the automotive sector accounts for 10 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, it has a clear role to play in avoiding dangerous climatic change. The industry must ensure its share of emissions does not increase alongside the predicted tripling of the global vehicle fleet by 2050.

FIA Mobility has made a number of policy proposals to address climate change. Clean car technology already exists and is being widely used in developed countries; the challenge is how to export this technology to the developing world. Desulphurisation of fuels is central to achieving new emissions cleaning technologies.

For this reason, the FIA is pushing for a global target of 50 ppm sulphur in all fuels, coupled with incentives to renew the world's vehicle fleets. These measures would allow for huge progress in exporting technology, and consequently, large reductions in air pollution.

Similarly, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through the development of new technology. The FIA is calling for a global target of 140g CO2/km, a realistic and achievable target that would act as an incentive for manufacturers to develop new CO2-reducing technologies.

Apart from its policy proposals aimed at governments and the automotive sector, the FIA has raised consumer awareness with Make Cars Green, a campaign that ensures consumers are given all the information they need to make environmentally sound choices in motoring.

FIA Sport likewise has a major role to play in the fight against climate change, primarily through its unmatched media reach and the opportunity it provides to turn sports stars into environmental champions.

Across a range of championships, the FIA has taken steps to lessen the impact of motor sport on the environment, but meanwhile ensure the sport is having a positive impact by encouraging innovative technology development relevant to the entire automotive sector. For example, the introduction of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) into Formula One is directly relevant to hybrid technology in passenger vehicles.

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