Buy greener cars says Ford

• Climate change is in motorists' hands, says Ford
• Improvements in technology can only go so far
• Ford boss calls for better incentives for motorists

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Motorists have to embrace greener car choices if global warming is to be kept in check, says Ford, and they have to be given better incentives to do so.

Global product development boss Richard Parry-Jones told whatcar.com today that the company has worked hard to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in its cars. He says two thirds of Ford's future research and development budget is also devoted to this area.

These gains, however, cannot in themselves keep atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to acceptable levels and temperature rises to a manageable 2-3 degrees Centigrade, he warns.

Parry-Jones says only 10% of motorists currently include environmental concerns in their buying decision, and just 1% then go on to purchase a greener car.

He says buyers need to be more carbon-conscious when buying, but admits that motorists won't go into 'sackcloth-and-ashes-mode to save the planet.'

Instead of forcing car manufacturers to produce greener products, or rewarding them for doing so, Parry-Jones says better Government incentives for motorists would stimulate demand.

Parry-Jones says Ford is also convinced that bio-fuels - ethanol derived from crops or wood waste - will also play a significant role in achieving acceptable levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

With transport accounting for 22% of carbon dioxide output, Parry-Jones says only by a concerted effort across a wide range of fronts will these levels be maintained, however.

Four households turning their central heating down by one degree saves a tonne of carbon dioxide over a year, he says, as does unplugging 150 unused mobile phone chargers or switching off 35 office computers overnight.