Racing into the Future

The Honda Formula One racing team have stepped into the climate change fray with the launch of their car for the 2007 season which features no advertising, but Planet Earth.

Their associated website, Myearthdream, urges people to make carbon-saving pledges and then have their pledge appear as part of the car's design livery at F1 races. The pledges feature the simple stuff and each and every one of us can do - switching electricity suppliers, low-energy lightbulbs, recycling, using public transport - and something I don't see very often - not ironing and going for the 'crumpled look'. I should tell this last one to my mum...

I was taken aback when I read about this initiative- only recently have I begun to think about the environmental impact of F1 racing (which I frequently watch) and the industry has been targeted for encouraging high speeds and a profligate use of fuel. Still, Honda, alongside Toyota, have been at the forefront of lower emissions from cars and fuel efficiency and I would think it was complete greenwash if it was coming from a company like Land Rover. Watching a car plastered in the image of the Earth go around and around the track can only spark off conversation and thinking on climate change by F1 fans.