This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Green transport initiative for Edinburgh
18/02/2002
A new, Grangemouth-produced greener fuel was launched
today in Edinburgh.
Attending the launch of BP's new ultra low sulphur fuel,
Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong
Learning Lewis Macdonald said:
"I congratulate BP on developing this new ultra clean
fuel, and am pleased that they have chosen to pilot it in
the Edinburgh area. BP are supporting our
do a little:change a lot environmental awareness campaign which includes
encouraging people not to use their cars for short
journeys.
"We all know that car travel is necessary but now people
can chose this sulphur free fuel which has a number of
welcome environmental benefits.
Drivers can now help to improve local air quality across
Scotland, as well as having the potential to help reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide, the main transport contributor
to climate change. This development by BP will help to
reduce emissions of air pollutants, which can be so harmful
to health, and the environment in our towns and
cities."
The continued introduction of fuel-efficient
technologies for new cars should substantially reduce fuel
use and benefit motorists, as well as help the
environment.
BP's latest clean fuel is manufactured at its
Grangemouth refinery, and is being introduced in the UK in
the first instance at 17 BP service stations in the
Edinburgh area.
Sulphur free fuel will lead to lower emissions of air
pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
Sulphur free petrol will also facilitate the introduction
of new direct injection petrol engine technologies, which
are considerably more fuel efficient than existing petrol
engine technologies.
The
Scottish Climate Change Programme, published in November 2000, contains measures in
devolved areas aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse
gases believed to be causing climate change. This programme
of measures contributes to the
UK Climate Change Programme which was also published in November 2000. The UK
Programme contains measures aimed at delivering the UK
Kyoto commitment of a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by 2008-2012 and moving the UK as a whole toward
the domestic goal of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide
emissions by 2010.
The latest
Air Quality Strategy for Scotland, England, Wales
and Northern Ireland was published in January 2000. It sets targets for
reducing levels of eight important air pollutants and sets
out the strategic framework within which air quality
policies will be taken forward in the short to medium
term.
BP is a partner in the Scottish Executive's "Do a Little
- Change a Lot" environmental awareness campaign. The
formal partnership launch will be on 21 February, when BP
along with ScottishPower, Scottish Gas, Scottish and
Southern Energy, Scottish Television and Shell will explain
how they are promoting the message that making small
changes to daily routines can lead to big improvements for
the environment.