Government of Canada
September 15, 2003

CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES ALBERTA DRIVERS TO REDUCE VEHICLE IDLING

Edmonton – September 15, 2003 – Climate Change Central, the Government of Canada and the Sierra Club of Canada – Prairie Chapter have launched a campaign to encourage Alberta drivers to reduce vehicle idling.

Lorne Taylor, Alberta’s Environment Minister and co-chair of Climate Change Central, kicked off the campaign at a south Edmonton elementary school today, encouraging parents to switch off their engines while picking up their children.

“Vehicle idling is tough on the environment, on Albertans’ health and on our vehicles, so it makes good sense environmentally and economically to start changing this driving habit,” said Taylor.

Vehicle idling wastes fuel and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. If every one of Alberta’s 2.3 million registered vehicles was idled five minutes less per day, we would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 302,000 tonnes a year and save 126 million litres of fuel and $87 million per year. For the average motorist, that’s a reduction of almost 55 litres of fuel, worth $35 and equal to 0.13 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Everything we do, large or small, to cut greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of the answer to climate change,” said the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. “Idle-free campaigns are helping municipalities and individual Canadians take action at the local level. The Office of Energy Efficiency within my department has worked in partnership with a number of cities across the country to launch similar campaigns, and I hope more communities will join this growing and successful initiative,” he added.

“Many people think greenhouse gases and climate change are a problem for industry and government,” said Allan Amey, President and CEO of Climate Change Central. “But reducing vehicle idling is a prime example of how individuals can make a big difference in reducing emissions with a small change in their behaviour.”

The goal of the month-long Alberta Reduce Idling Campaign is simple and easily achievable: Get motorists to turn off their engines when they are parked or stopped for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic. Drivers can reduce idling by not warming their cars for long periods, and by turning off their engines while picking up kids at school or waiting in a drive-through lane. Idling for 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting an engine and actually causes more engine wear. As well fuel-injection vehicles warm up faster by being driven, rather than idling.

The campaign includes public awareness advertising and events at schools and gas stations to directly engage drivers. As well, the cities of Edmonton and Calgary, the Calgary Health Region, Alberta Environment and Alberta Transportation are supporting the campaign by undertaking their own initiatives to curb idling. Other campaign partners include the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute and the Alberta Motor Association.

The campaign is being led by Climate Change Central, a private-public partnership established as a catalyst for, and coordinator of, activities by individuals, businesses, institutions and governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta. Natural Resources Canada, a Government of Canada department specializing in the sustainable development and use of natural resources, is the major campaign sponsor. The Sierra Club of Canada – Prairie Chapter is coordinating public outreach at schools and gas stations in Edmonton and Calgary.

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