THE Low Vehicle Carbon Partnership (LowCVP) is forging ahead with its drive for a low carbon future after appointing a new director.

Greg Archer joined the Government-backed partnership last week, bringing a wealth of experience gained in environmental and policy issues. His career includes a role at the Carbon Trust where he was responsible for delivering the £8 million Action Energy programme of energy efficiency advice to small and medium-sized businesses.

Archer is keen to start his new role and will begin by tacking the problem of climate change.

He said: ‘Climate change is the most significant threat to the future stability of our environment and managing future emissions from road transport is a vital part of any solution. Being properly prepared for a low carbon future will also help to put UK businesses in a position to capitalise on the new market opportunities of the 21st century.’

Archer is a trained chemist and a lot of his experience focuses on the environment and its development. As associate director of the Atkins Environment, he worked on several products looking at climate change, air pollution, environmental risk assessment and sustainable development.

The LowCVP is part of the Government’s wider green transport initiative and David Jamieson, transport minister, is also chairman of the ministerial Low Carbon Group which oversees work completed by the LowCVP.

Jamieson said: ‘The LowCVP has achieved a great deal since its inception last year and Archer’s appointment will ensure it is driven forward.’

Graham Smith, chairman of the LowCVP and managing director of Toyota (GB), said Archer’s background would help steer the LowCVP forward.

He said: ‘UK businesses have much to gain from engaging with the LowCVP to help deliver optimal solutions to the increasingly urgent problem of climate change.’

140-strong partnership sets out goals for the future

THE Low Vehicle Carbon Partnership, set up in January 2003, has 140 members representing the Government, motor and fuel industries, vehicle users, environmental groups and consumers.

Its main objective is to reduce carbon from the road transport sector. It pledges to:

Provide a communications framework to encourage the move to low carbon fuels and vehicles

Facilitate a forum so stakeholders can work together to overcome market barriers

Enable partners to initiate new policy ideas or discuss the feasibility of those already on the agenda

Provide the Government with independent feedback on opportunities and obstacles in the move to new vehicles and fuels, and on the progress and effectiveness of current Government programmes.