F1 Cars at the Indian Grand Prix start
The Formula One Team's Association (FOTA), has announced that Teams across the F1 paddock
have reduced their carbon emissions by 7%.
The carbon reduction was achieved over a two-year period from 2009 to
2011 by F1 teams including Caterham, Lotus, Marussia, Mercedes AMG
Petronas, Sahara Force India, Sauber, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and
Williams. It follows an externally-audited exercise to set a target to
reduce emissions from a baseline of 2009.
FOTA tracked the Teams’ performance against the target, and an audit,
conducted by established environmental research analysis organization
Trucost (link), found that fuel efficiency led to a 24% cut in carbon emissions
from Formula One cars. These advances highlight the potential to
accelerate carbon reductions across the automotive industry and present
further evidence of Formula One’s role in providing an important
platform for the development of new technologies.
Turbocharging, fuel injection, variable valve timing and kinetic
energy recovery systems [KERS] have all been developed within Formula
One. The Teams will continue to invest in technologies to help address
resource and environmental challenges.
Trucost’s analysis also identified a 14% fall in emissions from
electricity use, following Team-wide efforts to reduce wind tunnel use
in race testing, and a 14% reduction in emissions linked to purchases of
parts and raw materials.
Key areas of emissions growth since 2009 were operational fuel use,
business travel and freight, which directly resulted from an increase in
the number of races in the calendar and distances travelled.
Martin Whitmarsh, Chairman of FOTA said: “We are delighted to have
achieved such significant reductions in our carbon emissions at such an
early stage on our journey. With Trucost’s assistance, we have
implemented robust systems to manage the carbon emissions of the Teams
and identify areas for further emissions reductions. We will continue
our focus on fuel efficiency and are also investigating opportunities to
shift towards more carbon-efficient freight transport modes. We are
delighted that the FIA Institute has launched a global environmental
accreditation programme, which underscores the commitment of the sport
to taking positive action on sustainability.”
Richard Mattison, Chief Executive, Trucost said, “By measuring,
disclosing and reducing their operational and supply chain carbon
emissions, the Formula One Teams lead international sports federations
in the carbon race. The innovations in fuel efficiency that the teams
have achieved are an important development for the sport and the wider
automotive industry.”
| Emissions categories | 2011 GHG emissions (tCO2e) | 2009 GHG emissions (tCO2e) | Percentage change (%) |
| F1 Cars | 486 | 638 | -23.82% |
| Electricity | 54,961 | 64,110 | -14.27% |
| Expenditure on parts and raw materials | 97,969 | 113,969 | -14.04% |
| Other vehicles | 5,220 | 5,679 | -8.08% |
| Freight | 20,510 | 17,638 | 16.28% |
| Business travel | 19,790 | 14,256 | 38.82% |
| Operational fuel use | 9,437 | 7,504 | 25.76% |
| Total | 208,373 | 223,794 | -6.89% |
