motor racing/ co2 emmisions

[nix-j-c]

i don't want to sound really boring but . . .

how much co2 do you think car and motorbike racing emmits and is this a significent amount?

[New Judge]

In a Formula One race you have 20 cars each covering 200 miles at about four miles to the gallon. So, about 1,000 gallons of fuel are consumed. This is equivalent to a small car capable of 40 mpg covering about 40,000 miles (65,000km). The CO2 emissions from the race (being very simplistic, I know) are therefore about 6,500kg or about 6.5 tons. Far greater, of course, is the �carbon footprint� of the transport involved in lugging men and machines to 17 venues around the world.

The Prime Minister is currently on a �world tour� prior to the G20 summit (as if 20 Heads of Government and their entourages all travelling across the globe were not enough, he has to go on a world tour).

Assuming he covers a (very) modest 20,000 miles by air, those aircraft will emit something in the order of 4 tons of CO2 per passenger. So, about 40 tons for a (again very modest) entourage of 10.

I, meantime, am told I have to use unsuitable light bulbs in my house which might make me ill. I am also told that in the not too distant future motorway lighting (only recently installed in some areas) will be switched off during the night to �save the planet�. It has been calculated that such a move will lead to �only� 1.8 accidents per hundred miles, so is perfectly acceptable. Unless, of course, you are involved in one of the 1.8 accidents and are killed or seriously injured.

You are not boring at all, nix. It is an interesting question and I hope my answer has put the matter into perspective. But what is boring is the sanctimonious Holier-Than-Thou attitudes displayed by our politicians who want us all to live in dark, cold caves, whilst they jet off around the world on totally unnecessary journeys.

[nix-j-c]

so is this a significent amount?

maybe they should race electric cars. they still release some stuff but barely anything compared to petrol nd diesel.

[eltelioni]

Ok, racing cars and bikes use a lot of fuel, but there aren't many of them, so there is little benefit to stopping motor racing. Suppose there are 20,000,000 cars in the UK, averaging 10,000 miles per year at 40 mpg. That's 5 billion gallons of fuel per year. If everyone does 1% fewer miles, that saves 50 million gallons per year. Cancelling the British Grand Prix will save 1000 gallons.

[nix-j-c]

would it. it seems like theres more?

[nix-j-c]

and anyway if people think switchign lighs off when you leave a room for 5 minutes makes a difference they would think motor racing would wouldnt they?

[f1steveuk]

At the end of each year the FIA calculate a figure for the annual output of Co2 from motorsport, and plant a qauntity of trees, although if it offsets it or not is open to debate