Land Rover G4 Challenge
Respecting the Environment
27.04.2006
It’s a tough task. Take 134 vehicles and around 180 people through some of the most remote spots on earth and you’re certain to raise eco-eyebrows. But with its strict guidelines on waste, water and 4x4 driving, along with a groundbreaking promise to totally offset its carbon usage, the Challenge has raised the environmental bar higher than any previous event of a similar nature.
‘Land Rover has gone way beyond any requirements of the four countries it’s visiting,’ stresses freelance environmental consultant, Clare Fothergill, a key figure in establishing green credentials for the Challenge. ‘It’s very different to the 2003 Challenge which travelled through countries with legislation and infrastructures designed to protect the environment. This time that often doesn’t exist, but we want to maintain the same high standards – to set something in concrete. I don’t know any other organisation like Land Rover that is doing this.’
That has meant taking some major steps. For the first time, the company has comprehensively assessed the emission producing activities of the Challenge and guaranteed to offset them by investing in sustainable forestry and alternative energy research.
The exhaustive calculation covered everything from the manufacture of documents and fuel consumption to hotel stays, vehicle delivery and flights. Of which, 85 per cent originates from air travel, and just five per cent from vehicle petrol and diesel.
‘It’s brilliant that Land Rover is doing this,’ says Clare, who has also worked as an adventure instructor in Southern Africa. ‘This is a huge step forward. Land Rover is saying, “This is what we do. Let’s do it responsibly.�’
The same goes for its ‘Tread Lightly’ approach to off road driving. Best practices (taught at Land Rover Experience centres around the globe) have been drilled into competitors through extensive training, including the use of the Terrain Response™ technology, and correct winching techniques. ‘People often assume it will cause damage,’ says Clare, ‘but if you’re responsible, that just isn’t the case.’
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