Sir, – Timely indeed that Neil Briscoe ("Diesel vs petrol", Motors, December 10th) should assess the pros and cons of the trend in this country towards diesel vehicles, promoted by vehicle registration and motor tax. The previous day, the UK environmental audit committee suggested a scrappage scheme for diesel vehicles to cut air pollution. Diesel vehicles produce higher emissions of a range of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
A recent European Environment Agency report estimated that PM2.5 was responsible for 1,229 deaths in Ireland. The current incentives for diesel vehicles seems to be based solely on CO2 emissions, and only “tailpipe” emissions at that – on a wider lifecycle assessment, the CO2 benefits of diesel versus petrol vehicles may be more marginal. We need to be careful not to create a national air pollution problem while seeking to solve a global climate one. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’GRADY,
Dublin 20.