Zoning restrictions would demand no home be built farther than 400 meters from a bus stop, speed limits in areas where cars had to pass be no higher than 15 MPH, and car sharing would replace car ownership. We've been to Europe quite a few times now, and there's a funny juxtaposition there. Their automakers produce some of the most brilliant cars on the planet, and yet, European governments seem to hate cars and hate drivers. Everywhere you go it's gridlock, gas taxation is atrocious, parking is impossible, you can't get from point A to point B without going through points C, D, and E. It's maddening. You're actually better off with a bike or motorcycle. So what we're saying is this story is not a surprise, it is simply further evidence that European governments would rather strangle free enterprise and make it painful to own a car, rather than build a road system that doesn't punish the automobile drivers. [Gaurdian via Treehugger]

Some of the highlights:

Life Is Better With Wheels: "It is...clear that mobility is becoming a fundamental component in perceptions of today's quality of life."

Bentleys Are Irrational: "As a luxury performance brand, the reasons for purchasing a Bentley are based on a more emotional than rational need for transportation."

Emergency!: "As this document makes clear, the world is facing a potential crisis over climate change and access to energy."

Upshot is that Bentley is putting its money, it heaping piles of money, behind FlexFuel. But not really first generation biofuels, which because they are derived from crops that people need for food has caused, as the report points out, riots. They are basically endorsing second-generation biofuels, made from heaps of decomposing filth waste products. Later, the situation will get completely kick-ass, when we brew up all our biofuels from farmed ocean algae, and also drive FlexFuel Bentleys in a future in which their is no sickness or war and we all live to be 317.

But you know what? We approve of this high-ground-taking on Bentley's part. Leadership! Even if they persistently remind us that emissions generated by Bentleys amount to the equivalent of "two cans of Cola in an Olympic sized swimming pool"—in other words, not very dang much, when compared to other carmakers. Of course, that's a bit of a bogus claim when you consider that Bentley might not even exist were it not for the global auto industry.

One of Los Jalops has been a vegetarian for nearly exactly twelve years now. At the time, he drove a V8 automobile. Twelve years later, he still drives a V8 automobile. That is to say, he's sort of a hypocrite, yet with the amount he actually drives said V8 automobile, coupled with his reduced appetite for methane-emitting agricultural beasts, he's pretty sure he's got the moral edge on rich people who slum in hybrids while tanking up once a week and dine early and often at Ruth's Chris. Apparently, a British government agency has decided that in the fight against climate change, the nation's citizenry should be gently pressured into eating fewer bangers and topping off their mash with a tad bit less butter. Needless to say, we're sure the cattle lobby in the UK is hopping mad. – Davey G. Johnson

Eat less meat to save planet: British official [Reuters via Slate]

Related:
The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts, Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 [Internal]

The UK branch of environmental action group, Greenpeace took out a full-page ad in the Times (UK) criticizing the fuel-efficiency of the Ford Motor Company's fleet and the company's opposition to stiffened mileage standards. The ad, placed on "donated" space, Said Ford was the worst car manufacturer in its league, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The group, whose well-documented opposition to GM refers to genetically modified crops, not General Motors, is targeting Land Rover vehicles as part of a campaign against gas guzzlers. In other news, Toyota said "Mwahahahah." Click through for the full text. [Thanks to James for the scan.] [Update: Ford's got a witty retort.]

Congratulations to Ford. After 80 years of car manufacturing the 1923 Model T still manages more miles per gallon (25 mpg) than their latest Range Rover Sport (13 mpg)*. Indeed, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Ford USA is the worst car manufacturer in their fuel-efficiency league.

Ford has the technology to produce vehicles with lower CO2 emissions, but has done little about it. If it were to act immediately, and also stop opposing improved fuel efficiency standards, then it might make some real progress on climate change. Lest they forget, all dinosaurs become extinct eventually.