Fed: 13 per cent of motorists are offsetting their emissions

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2008
Fed: 13 per cent of motorists are offsetting their emissions

CANBERRA, April 16 AAP - One third of motorists are unwilling to pay to offset the
carbon cost of driving, a new survey shows.

The AAMI survey of 2,503 people also revealed that just 13 per cent of drivers were
offsetting their emissions already.

"However, the research shows that there is some willingness among drivers to pay to
offset their emissions, with 24 per cent prepared to pay up to $50, nine per cent between
$51 and $100, and two per cent between $101 and $150 to offset their car emissions," AAMI's
public affairs manager Geoff Hughes said in a statement today.

Carbon offset schemes involve drivers calculating how far they drive per year, then
paying approved organisations to plant forests to offset carbon emissions.

Only two per cent of drivers would pay more than $150 to offset their emissions, the
survey found.

Mr Hughes offered some basic tips for saving petrol and therefore saving emissions including:

* Use the throttle smoothly when accelerating by depressing the pedal lightly and slowly.

* Avoid peak-hour traffic where possible.

* Look ahead to maintain momentum and avoid frequent stopping and starting.

* Check and adjust your tyre pressure regularly.

* Switch off your engine when caught in a traffic jam.

AAP pv/sb/ldj/cdh

KEYWORD: EMISSIONS

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