No breathing!

Terra! denounces CO2 pollution from cars at all the ltz access points in Rome.  The Italian government is boycotting the European Union's climate package, to the detriment of the environment and Italians

Last night 200 road signs protesting against CO2 pollution from cars appeared at the 40 electronic access points to the Limited Traffic Zones in Rome. The activists of the environmentalist association Terra! strike again.

“No entry to the historical centre for vehicles with CO2 emissions higher than 120 g/km”, “Stop CO2”, “No breathing!”, is what it says on the road signs that the Terra! association placed last night at the electronic access points to the Limited Traffic Zones in Rome, to denounce increasing pollution and climate change. 

At the end of the initiative, the Terra! activists headed for the Ministry of the Environment in order to symbolically deliver a 'Golden Exhaust Pipe' to Minister Prestigiacomo for the Italian Government's policies against the environment.
 
At the moment, in fact, European ministers are discussing new laws to limit climate change and force car manufacturers to invest more in energy efficiency. But the whole European climate package has been called into question by the Italian government, which has threatened not to honour the commitments already made at European level. This is an irresponsible position which jeopardizes measures to prevent the climate catastrophe which all scientists are now certain will occur if measures are not taken. Indeed, experts agree that in order to limit global warming to lower than the cautious 2°C threshold,  European countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% within 2020, while Italy is refusing even the 20% target proposed by the European Union.

Terra! asks that the Italian government resume support for the European climate package and pledge to support innovative measures. “The future of each and every one of us is at stake. This government is behaving irresponsibly, and is threatening the preservation of the planet and the health and safety of its citizens - said Daniel Monetti of Terra! - Reducing CO2 emissions is not a luxury, it is a necessity. The damages that each of us will pay for climate change and its incalculable consequences will far outweigh the costs of the investments required for greater energy efficiency.”

The campaign regarding CO2 pollution launched by Terra! has highlighted the fact that in 50 years the automotive industry has made no real progress and is the only sector which has not lowered emissions. In 2005 road transport was responsible for 20,9% of national greenhouse gas emissions and 60% of these emissions derived from private cars. “And the trend is rising continuously - concludes Monetti - This sector must do its bit to combat climate change. It is essential that CO2 emissions from new cars are limited to 120 g/Km by 2012”.