Land Rover to audit its offset scheme

Monday, February 05, 2007

Land Rover operates carbon offset scheme
Firm wants scheme to be accountable
Team of experts to oversee its operation

Latest News

Land Rover has appointed a team of leading environmental figures to oversee the carbon offset scheme it offers with its cars.

The scheme aims to offset the carbon dioxide produced by the cars with investment in renewable energy production like solar power. Buyers can opt out of the scheme, which adds between £85 and £165 to the price of a new Land Rover.

Because of doubts raised about the value of offset schemes, the Land Rover team will meet every four months to ensure the project is 'accountable, efficient and transparent'.

Members of the panel include Sir Crispin Tickell (former government adviser and diplomat), Professor Diana Liverman (director of the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford), Dr Sally Uren (director of the Forum for the Future) and government advisor Alan Knight. Further appointments will be announced in the future.

Dr Uren said: 'Offsetting is a transition mechanism at best, as it will be investment in new technologies that will provide long-term solutions to climate change. Land Rover recognises this and we look forward to seeing new advances in the not too distant future.'