A leading expert on the causes of climate change has called for a ban on large executive cars, saying vehicles that carry ‘male egos’ should be banned from the road.
Professor Kevin Anderson, chair of energy and climate change at the University of Manchester School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering was speaking at a low-carbon event this week. Professor Anderson is no stranger to suggesting drastic measures to halt the march of climate change, he has previously said that rich nations should undergo ‘planned austerity’ in order to reduce their fossil-fuel emissions and is also under a self-imposed fly-less policy, saying that he has no reason to be on a plane that can justify the emissions.
Speaking at this week’s event, Professor Anderson said: “When I walked here, I passed a great big Audi sports car probably emitting 250g/km of carbon dioxide, two huge four-wheel-drives carrying some male egos and a massive great big Mercedes limo.
“Now, why on Earth, if we’re serious about climate change in 2019, are they allowed on our roads? I want to see a reduction there – that’s a growth we can get rid of straight away.”
Anderson has also suggested that removing the resources that go towards producing these luxuries of the 10 or 20 per cent of the population could help develop a zero-carbon infrastructure within 20-25 years.