With the Copenhagen climate summit rapidly approaching, practical solutions to reduce carbon emissions are crucial. Today, European environmental NGOs present Cleaner Car Contracts, an initiative to mobilise Europe’s largest lease companies and fleet owners to accelerate the introduction of fuel-efficient cars.

The aim of Cleaner Car Contracts is simple: to mobilize Europe’s lease companies and fleet owners –the most significant force within the market for new cars- to advocate European demand for far more fuel-efficient card, thus challenging the supply side of the market to accelerate the introduction of fuel-efficient car model.
30% of Europe’s demand for new cars is controlled by the lease sector. This kind of buying power, if applied to more ambitious goals what is legally required by EU law, can greatly speed up the much needed fuel-efficiency improvement of car fleets.

Leaseurope, the Brussels-based organization representing the European interests of the leasing sector, actively supports environmentally friendly fleet management initiatives. Vincent Rupied, chairman of Leaseurope’s Automotive Steering Group: “The fleet leasing industry is well positioned to develop a business model that reconciles economic and environmental concerns. Initiatives like Cleaner Car Contracts provide us with potential partners to structure this approach.”
The Dutch representative of the lease sector, VNA, appreciates the positive and constructive approach of Cleaner Car Contracts. “The lease-sector is in an excellent position to offer sustainable transport, which benefits both economy and environment. We therefore support the request for faster introduction of fuel-efficient cars to car producers and EU policy makers,” says Renate Hemerik, director of VNA.

Mirjam de Rijk, director of Stichting Natuur en Milieu: “Together we are creating a significant impulse for fuel-efficient cars in Europe. With Cleaner Car Contracts, the European environmental movement and the European lease-sector recognise that they share a common interest. This is innovation at its best.”

The first signing company is, fittingly, Copenhagen Car Sharing from Denmark. Other companies are lining up to sign in the coming weeks: Sixt leasing and rental, also from Denmark, and Athlon Car Lease International, operating 220.000 cars in 9 European countries. “Cleaner Car Contracts’ focus is on practical climate solutions, and Athlon Car Lease shares that vision by enthusiastically endorsing the project," says Hans Blink, President of Athlon Car Lease International.

Leasecompanies and other fleet-owning companies are cordially invited to sign up. By joining the project, you subscribe to an ambitious CO₂-target for your fleets. Moreover, you will show just how green and sustainable a frontrunner you are within the automotive sector, which will be awarded with bronze, silver and golden fleet awards, depending on the ambition of the target you subscribe to.

More information as well as contact details can be found on http://www.cleanercarcontracts.eu.

--- ENDS ----
Notes
• contact person: Chris Nobel, CCC project leader, +31 (0) 30 2348 278 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Stichting Natuur en Milieu is a proud member of these Brussels based environmental networks: the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Transport & Environment Europe (T&E) and Climate Action Network (CAN).
• participating national NGOs are: Formand for Det Økologiske Råd (Danish Ecological Council, www.ecocouncil.dk), Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD, www.vcd.org), France Nature et Environnement (FNE, www.fne.asso.fr) and Terra! Onlus from Italy (www.terraonlus.it).