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Isle of Man honoured for pioneering Green TT
THE Isle of Man Government has received a prestigious award for its involvement in hosting the world's first zero carbon, clean emission TTXGP motorcycle race.
The Special Recognition Award for the Support of Emerging Technologies was presented by the prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and collected by Minister of Local Government and the Environment John Shimmin MHK at a ceremony in Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
The Lord's event was part of the IET's Ambition and Achievement Award ceremonies.
An integral part of the IET's role is to recognise and reward innovative actions which result in the advancement of science, engineering and technology.
IET president Professor Christopher Snowden, who presented the award, said: 'The IET is pleased to support the technical scrutiny panel that helped solve many of the TTXGP technical challenges.
'However, there were also many non-technical challenges and it was through the vision, drive and determination of the Isle of Man Government that these were overcome.'
He added: 'The outcome was a public demonstration that should change consumer perceptions and drive forward innovation and technology to meet the demand for non-polluting, clean motoring.'
Mr Shimmin said: 'I am delighted that our internationally-renowned TT festival has played such a leading role in bringing TTXGP to the world.'
'The Island prides itself on being a pioneering nation with an independent outlook and a keen spirit of adventure – qualities recognised by the founders of TTXGP as they sought to showcase the world's first clean emissions motorcycle grand prix.
'TTXGP represents a significant step in the transition away from carbon-based fuels and, with continued commitment, co-operation and investment, the future of eco motorsport looks very exciting. We look forward to future involvement.'
Mr Shimmin said: 'To effectively invent another new motorsport, the IET recognised as outstanding. And for them to put their weight behind us was a major part of the success of the event. '
It is now expected that there will be about 12 eco motorsports events organised worldwide next year.
'We are way ahead of everybody else - the award is massive. It is a new award and it was very unusual for a government to be a recipient at the ceremony,' said Mr Shimmin.
He added: 'Although there is some reluctance to be recognised at home, the international world see us as being in the vanguard of a whole new technology.
Last month, Mr Shimmin announced that CO2 emissions across the government estate have been reduced by more than 10 per cent up to 2007-08. This is half way towards the target set in 2006 for a 20 per cent reduction by 2010.
And he urged ministers to encourage their departments to become as energy efficient as possible.
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Minister defends decision to jet out to pick up award
MR Shimmin has defended his decision to travel to collect the award, shortly after jetting to Las Vegas for a promotional event to unveil a zero emission suerpbike, saying the benefits outweight the effect of his own carbon footprint.
When asked if, to reduce his own carbon footprint – especially after the Las Vegas trip – he had considered not travelling to London for the awards ceremony, he said: 'This award is a significant step for the Isle of Man and it was appropriate to attend and receive it.
'It is recognition of just how much we have achieved so it wouldn't have been appropriate for us to ask them to post it to us.
'There is the issue of carbon footprint but I wouldn't be able to represent the Isle of Man at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen this month if I were to stop all travel.
'I am conscious that I have travelled a lot recently, however, sometimes the job needs to be done off-Island.'
Mr Shimmin said that while in the UK to collect the award, he also went to Birmingham for the press launch of the TT at the Internatioanl Motorcycle and Scooter Show.
Is Mr Shimmin's international travel necessary or should he be using other methods to spread the word and keep his carbon footprint down?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
Do as I say not what I do, not very green at all really.
LJ
Sir, I would say that the claim of zero carbon for electric bikes is a myth. The batteries in these bikes have to be charged up with mains electricity. That electricity is no different to the electricity we all use, which comes from burning fossil fuels, very far from being carbon free. Where are the wind power or water power generators on the Isle of Man? You have to look very hard to find any at all?
JOHN KERRUISH
Wonderful isn't it. Our elected buffoons prattle on about carbon footprints and plans to reduce these then jet off around the world.
PEEJAY
Nothing is zero carbon emission free, absolutely nothing. Solar power needs the construction of panels and this produces carbon emissions, if you look at everything that they say is green, the real fact is that it isn't green at all, just greener than the alternatives. One of my friends was part of a study on climate change and whilst there is a change in the climate, the findings were that it was part of a greater global cycle that happens naturally. They did agree however that mans contribution has increased massively, but pointed to this only bringing the inevitable change quicker in real terms, rather than being the cause of the change itself. You can see some of the results here http://epic.awi.de/Publications/Khl2009c.pdf and as you will see it is a cyclical thing that everyone should be aware of. It does worry me about the great affect we are having by forcing this change quicker, but sometimes I think that informing people but not using all of the facts is either that they think we can not make the judgement ourselves and treating us like a bunch of children or that it just suits their own criteria. I believe that its not just down to man, like everyone would make you think, it's a natural cycle of the planet. But we have brought it on quicker than it would have happened naturally.
DUCK
How about some support for electric Vehicles for us 'normal drivers' here at home then Mr Shimmin? Some charging points and grants for EVs? How about some doing instead of talking?
PS
The first TTXGP race on the Isle of Man was a very significant step forward in building the acceptance of alternative propulsion for vehicles. Note that the vehicles themselves are zero emission. There are of course issues as to total life cycle carbon consumption, but the move to zero emission in the vehicle has significant benefits in terms of pollution on streets and roads, and in terms of overall efficiency of electricity generation. It does of course also allow for alternative generation solutions in a way that conventional vehicles do not. There is a huge amount of work to be done in changing patterns of behaviour necessary to reduce the world's generation of greenhouse gases. Development is a process, and works in steps, sometimes fast and sometimes slow. Every step is important, and June 2009 was a huge one. What the Isle of Man and TTXGP have achieved in making this event happen is not to be underestimated in terms of the impact that it has had on the acceptance and growth of electrically propelled vehicles. Not only was there a notable change in the perception of such vehicles during the event itself, but it stimulated a significant number of discussions with global academia and industry in terms of the broader issues in a move to electric, including generation, distribution and the availability of charging points. These are non trivial questions, and there is clearly a role for the Isle of Man to play in developing and trialling solutions, and sometimes these have to be progressed with travel off the Island.
SIMON MADDISON, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Technical Advisers to TTXGP
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