Volvo announces 'Emissions Equality' initiative with iPhone app

Volvo has launched a new initiative to encourage motorists to think about a broad range of health and environmental issues - not just CO2 emissions - when they buy their next car.

At a conference held at 'The Gherkin' in London yesterday, speakers from Environmental Protection UK (formerly the National Society of Clean Air) and from Kings College London talked about the dangers posed in particular by 'nasties' from vehicle exhausts like NOx, Hydrocarbons and Particulates - the key contributors to poor health especially in cities like London.

Professor Frank Kelly of London's King College said that 4,300 premature deaths in London were caused by particulate matter and there were other health issues such as lung disease and asthma associated with vehicle emissions. "The biggest concern is for our children who may not develop full lung function as a result of the vehicles on the road."

Added Ed Dearnley, Policy Officer, Environmental Protection UK: "Just as we had legislation after the Great Smog of 1952, we need new legislation to tackle the problem of air pollution."

Already well known for its record on safety, Volvo is hoping to kickstart the environmental health debate by providing information to car buyers via a phone/PC app in conjunction with www.cleangreencars.co.uk. Rather like the labelling system found on white goods, the idea is that consumers will be able to easily access information on a whole range of car emissions, not just CO2 but also Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide which are known to contribute to health problems.

Says Peter Rask, Volvo's Regional President of UK, Ireland and Iceland: "We need to take a more holistic approach, not just look at CO2 emissions...Millions of pounds are spent on issues like obesity and passive smoking, yet the truth is that vehicle emissions are having a massive impact on health."

He adds: "This isn't about reducing the focus on CO2, our campaign is about drivers being given easy access to the complete set of pollutants information so they can make a more informed decision when they buy a new or used car."

However, the big question remains whether consumers will show an interest in wider issues around car pollution without legislation. Admits Volvo's own environmental consultant Dominic Potts who has worked tirelessly lobbying the government for the last 14 years. "Trying to get people interested in what is seen as a very complex issue is very difficult."

In the same way as vehicles with high CO2 emissions are now taxed more, it will almost certainly require legislation before we all sit up and take notice of the broader range of health issues around car pollution.

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