A press release from the Formula 1 Team’s Association (FOTA) today revealed that they would like to cut F1′s emissions by 12.4% by 2012.
This news comes after FOTA commissioned a report by Trucost to look into F1′s emissions. This report found that on average each team produces 215,558 tonnes of CO2 per year, yet only 0.29% comes from the burning of fuel by F1 cars in testing and races.
The largest source of emissions are the production and supply of raw materials and parts for the teams, with the second largest source of emissions being electricity usage, which derives from wind tunnel testing, high performance computing and manufacturing in the main.
FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh said:
“The FIA and FOTA are already working together to tailor the 2013 technical regulations to ensuring that all engines and powertrains used in Formula One by that date will showcase, and provide a platform for the ongoing development of, technologies designed to enhance fuel efficiency.”
There is a serious reason with FOTA are doing this. It’s not a daft gimmick. It’s because they need to. We are rapidly running out of resources on our planet, and Formula 1 in its current state isn’t the greatest advert for being environmentally friendly. Unless the bosses do something, the future of the sport will be called into question.
Being the pinnacle of motorsport and vehicular technology, it is Formula 1′s responsibility to promote eco-friendly schemes. F1′s contribution to carbon emissions on a global scale is very miniscule, but technology in F1 always filters down into road cars, which do make up a significant proportion of the global emissions. Therefore it is important that the sport does develop things like KERS, so it can ‘offset’ its emissions by reducing those in the road car sector.
There are also business reasons behind this move from FOTA. Being ‘green’ sells. Companies today like being known as environmentally friendly, and the greener F1 teams are, the more sponsors there will be queuing up to have their logos plastered on the car.
