The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia calls on the Western Australian Transport Minister Troy Buswell to ensure the announced 300 new full-time taxi plates are available on the condition they are only to be fitted to low-emissions vehicles.
‘Greening our taxi fleet will not only reduce the impact of oil pricing on future taxi fares, but will be a great statement for a more sustainable city,' says Professor Ray Wills, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA).
‘Many of the worlds great cities are taking measures to be more sustainable, and to reduce inner city air pollution including greenhouse gas emissions, and the Western Australian Government can take this opportunity to create a change for the Perth taxi fleet,' says Prof. Wills.
'Green cabs are becoming common place in Shanghai, San Francisco, London and Brisbane, with high fuel efficiency hybrids and no emissions electric vehicles now also being added to the fleet,' says Prof. Wills.
‘For example, two years ago the mayor of the Californian city and county of San Francisco sponsored a Green Taxi Law requiring taxi companies to lower their greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.'
‘In the same way, a simple measure from the Transport Minister to extend on current initiatives from the Department of Transport could ensure all of Perth's new taxis are green.'
Western Australia's new taxi plates should be attached to green cabs.
SEA Media Release - 27 September 2011
Editors notes:
1. The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) is a chamber for all enterprises from all industries supporting sustainable energy, and the fastest growing energy industry body in Australia. www.seaaus.com.au.
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