Europe’s largest car maker, Volkswagen, is harbouring a “dark secret” according to Greenpeace.
Despite its populist and consumer-friendly image, VW stands accused of greenwashing its dirty activities, trying to water down action on climate change and refusing to make popular models more fuel efficient.
According to Greenpeace, the car maker has repeatedly claimed that it wants to be a ‘green’ company, but has so far fundamentally failed to live up to its ambitions. This means the VW Group has the biggest climate footprint of any car manufacturer in Europe.
Although Volkswagen speaks of being “determined to become the world’s leading automaker in terms of both economy and ecology”, the bulk of its cars continue to be amongst the most polluting in Europe compared to other volume brands.
The company’s 2009 Sustainability Report went so far as to say: ‘We aim to be the most eco-friendly automaker in the world!’.
But the reality is far different. The company has dragged its feet in reducing the fuel consumption of its vehicle fleet, and whilst it has developed the technologies to produce highly fuel-efficient vehicles, it has not made them widely available or affordable.
According to Greenpeace’s report, the German carmaker puts its most efficient engines in only 6 per cent of its cars and inflates their price by more than their cost, deterring the wider adoption of greener motoring.
So for every ‘greener’ vehicle VW sells, it shifts around 15 others which emit much more CO2.
Greenpeace argues: “Volkswagen penalises consumers wanting smarter, cleaner vehicles by artificially inflating their price and making them marginal to its fleet.”
And despite its green rhetoric, Volkswagen has a history of opposing stricter fuel efficiency measures for cars, being one of the “driving forces” behind a car industry lobby campaign that tried to water down EU legislation on fuel efficiency.
It is also opposing the EU’s landmark climate policy of a 30 per cent CO2 reduction by 2020, by playing a leading role in the influential car lobby organisation in Brussels called ACEA.
The EU is committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. This year, European governments will consider whether to strengthen this by moving to a 30% reduction target.
But ACEA has been lobbying hard to scupper the change. And the VW Group has more positions on the board of ACEA than any other company, so it could easily force ACEA to be much more progressive on climate change.
Because of this Greenpeace has launched a campaign to force the company to change, using iconic images from Star Wars, arguing that the company must be saved from the “Dark side”. The environmental group has also launched a spoof VW advert that had a child dressed as Darth Vader.
The environmental group intends to target VW with a high-profile campaign, starting today in London where it will unveil of a poster campaign featuring a Darth Vader mask with the VW symbol and the words “Volkswagen. The Dark Side.”
It intends to step up its efforts in coming months.
Greenpeace argues: “The truth is that the Volkswagen Group has lagged behind its competitors for years. It only stepped up progress on CO2 reductions once a legal framework was put in place that forced it do so. It has shown no ability or willingness to voluntarily deliver the innovation or technology changes required. Now Volkswagen is openly opposed to the agreed 2020 standard that would benefit motorists, the economy and the environment.”
To watch the video, read the report or get involved go here: http://vwdarkside.com
On my own point of view, VW is alone of this guilt. Every company that involves in car making business is guilty of climate change. Creating an fuel efficient car model only justify their guilt that’s why car maker creating a new way to reduce pollution cause by car that they produce.
No offense..but this is just another great example of an orginisation going “over the top” once again…
People forget that the owners of such organisations drive around in expensive cars with a higher Co2 rate than 5 VW’s combined and lives in a house which uses more power than 2 households do.
Talking about environment efficiency..
It is the social responsibility of every business to protect not only their business but the environment and the community they are in. VW should take a step towards living up to what they say and not veil their actions with words. If there is truth to this, they should look at how climate change has produced so many disasters. Responsibility should be taken.
http://vwdarkside.com/it/jedi/irene-bonta-73632
Check this StarWars Game out!
http://bit.ly/jessice-picture
Yes, the company of Volkswagen should be responsible to what they have caused to the environment. They must find a solution on how they can produce cars without affecting the environment. I know this was a big guild for them, knowing that these human-made pollution is the result to climate change.
http://vwdarkside.com/fr/jedi/arnaud-quivoron-57415
Click! http://vwdarkside.com/it/jedi/kevin-maggetti-167831
http://vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/ali-kemal-seber-170475
http://vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/matheus-guimaraes-196046 CLICK PLEASE
Unterstütz’ mich beim Jedi-Training, um gegen VWs Blockade-Haltung beim Klimaschutz zu protestieren. Klick hier: http://www.vwdarkside.com/de/jedi/stephan-dalugge-115406
http://www.vwdarkside.com/es/jedi/monte-olivares-289703
Promoção Volks e Greenpeace, ganhe uma camiseta.
A promoção que tá rolando, basta clicar no link abaixo, e se cadastrar.
vocês também vão me ajudar. vlw!
http://vwdarkside.com/pt/jedi/junior-oliveira-303210
http://vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/leandro-gomes-300203
http://vwdarkside.com/pt/jedi/matheus-pereira-313570
http://www.vwdarkside.com/it/jedi/gennaro-antonio-caprioli-376952
Up to 434763 people this time of “rebellion” are joined.
Every voice counts to protest against VW’s blocking stance on climate change. Click here and Help me in my Jedi training as I confront Volkswagen’s threats to Planet Earth http://www.vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/jorg-priebe-tiemann-378754
Thank you!
Whom I can still help. I hope that you also help me.
http://vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/yuliya-zinchuk-355602