ITF Secretary General Jack Short, FIA Foundation Director General David Ward and Director of the UNEP Division of Technology Sylvie Lemmet
On 15 and 16 May 2008, the FIA Foundation, International Energy Agency, International Transport Forum, and UN Environment Programme jointly held a multi-stakeholder roundtable workshop entitled Towards a Global Approach to Automotive Fuel Economy at FIA headquarters in Paris.
The workshop was attended by around 50 participants ranging from high-level representatives from governments and NGOs around the world, to auto makers and suppliers, energy companies, and recognised experts on relevant aspects of fuel economy, vehicle technology and oil markets. In a lively discussion, the primary objective of which was to explore the opportunities and barriers related to improving automotive fuel economy worldwide, a wide range of issues including global trends in automotive fuel economy, the potential contribution of fuel and vehicle technologies to reduce fossil fuel consumption, the role of fuel economy testing, labelling and standards, and of market mechanisms and pathways towards a global policy framework were discussed.
The attached document outlines, the key points and questions which were raised in that discussion*. A key conclusion was that action is needed now to better understand the issue of fuel economy, in order that it might be properly addressed on a global scale. This ‘Global Fuel Economy Initiative’ will be a key focus of the work of the FIA Foundation in coming months and years.
*Participants have not explicitly endorsed these summary points, though they have reviewed and commented on them. Areas of uncertainty and disagreement are in some cases noted.
Click here to download Symposium findings >
Click here to download programme >
Click here to download list of attendees >