INDONESIA: Solar powered taxi at Bali climate conference, aims to go round the world as delegates debate carbon emmissions

The Indonesian conference was well into its third day in the tropical island of Bali on Wednesday (December 5). Protesters continued to park themselves outside the convention centre to raise awareness towards specific climate the issues. "We hope the countries in the southern hemisphere have the willingness to press the countries in the northern hemisphere to reduce their carbon emissions and be responsible to the countries affected by climate change and global warming," said Muhammad, the leader of the protest. The conference aims to update the Kyoto treaty, which will expire in 2012. They plan to involve all countries ranging from the United States to the poorest in Africa. Delegates will decide which international body runs an adaptation fund that could be worth up to $300 million annually from 2008 to 2012. That compares with adaptation funds of up to $170 billion needed annually by 2030, according to the U.N. report. "It also tells you I think that the climate change regime within itself can generate resources for adaptation by putting levies on mitigation activities," said Yvo de Boer, the head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in a news conference. Also at the conference was Louis Palmer's solar-powered taxi. It has a top speed of 90km (55 miles) per hour and could make history as the first solar-powered car to drive around the world. Palmer, a Swiss teacher who set off from Lucerne in July, is stopping-over in Bali to help environment ministers and others among 10, 000 delegates get around the conference grounds. "This car is driving entirely with solar energy. And I want people all over the world to be aware that there is global warming but there is also a solution against global warming. Cars do not necessarily power with petrol," said Palmer. So far he has driven 14,400 km (8,950 miles) through 17 nations including Romania, Turkey, Syria and India in his solar powered cars. That is about a third of the way through a trip meant to take him across Australia, parts of Latin America, the United States, North Africa and back home in about a year's time. The distance covered will be more than one round around the equator. Palmer is relying on oil-powered ships for some stretches, such as from India to Indonesia. And he also has a petrol-fuelled vehicle for support, including repairs. Palmer reckons the car would cost around 6,000 euros ($8,900 U.S. dollars) if mass produced. But factoring in work by sponsors and friends that were integral in making the car, the cost would be a lot higher. "Oh...if I measure all the time of my friends who helped me if I had to pay them all or something, I think it would be a price of two Ferraris," said Palmer. The car is nine metres (30 feet) long including the trailer and weighs 700 kg (1,500 lb). Palmer admits he cheats if daily trips exceed 100 kilometres -- he then needs to use a back-up battery, charged by electricity from solar panels.

ITN Source | December 5, 2007

Tags:. .ships. .aims. .poorest. .higher. .reduce