TwitterTRUE presented at Partnership on Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) global meeting
PCFV’s 12th global partnership meeting took place in Paris, France on 5-6 March 2019, to review its progress promoting cleaner fuels and vehicles in middle and low-income countries. Around forty partners, including Sheila Watson, FIA Foundation Deputy Director, attended the meeting, hosted by UN Environment, which brought together representatives from the oil and vehicle industry, non-governmental organizations, academia, and developed and developing country governments.
Through PCFV’s leadership, just two countries are yet to eliminate leaded petrol, and thirty-six countries have switched to low and ultra-low sulphur fuels. However, more progress is needed in introducing minimum emissions standards for vehicles; since 2012, only 15 countries have introduced Euro 4 equivalent vehicle emission standards mainly in the Latin America and the Asia regions.
Sheila Watson briefed partners about the The Real Urban Emissions Initiative (TRUE), that is carrying out real world vehicle emissions testing globally, most recently in London and Paris. These tests show that some vehicles on the road are emitting between 5 and 35 times higher harmful pollutants than declared at the time of vehicle manufacture. These significant findings have already led to policy change by the Mayor of London in a move to make the city’s iconic black taxis cleaner.
The meeting also heard how the export of vehicles from developed to less-developed countries is a huge trade flow, bringing with it the problem of pollution and high fuel use. This, alongside the need to ensure that vehicles are inspected and maintained whilst in use in less developed countries, will form the basis of the partnership’s upcoming work on clean vehicles.
Speaking at the meeting, Sheila Watson said “PCFV is a model partnership both in terms of the way in which it brings together such a wide group of stakeholders, and because of the policy impact it has had. Having focused so hard on cleaning up fuels, it is great to hear of its renewed commitment to clean vehicles and its intention to cooperate with TRUE as part of those plans.”
Further information and presentations are available from the UN Environment website.
