IPTEC Eco Driving Company

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Sep 2014

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Launching of IPTEC National Awareness Campaign

"Be an Eco-driver and Protect your Health and your Environment"

Al Machnouk: 59% of the nitrogen oxides NOx emissions result from the land transportation sector
Dr. Issa: We aim at rationalizing the use of energy and reducing environmental pollution

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Environment Mr. Mohamad Al Machnouk, and with the support of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), ESCWA and UNDP, IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) launched the "Be an Eco-driver and Protect your Health and your Environment" initiative during a press conference organized on Monday, September 15^th 2014 at the Hilton Grand Habtoor Hotel, Sin el Fil. The press conference was convened in the presence of H.E. the Minister of Environment Mr. Mohamad Al Machnouk, Dr. Walid Doughaily representative of ESCWA, Ms. Aline Lahoud ambassador of the campaign, Dr. Toni Issa president of IPTEC, and Mr. Zakhia Issa representative of IPT, along with representatives of different parties participating in the campaign as well as representatives of the local media.

H.E. Mr Mohamad Al Mashnouk, Minister of Environment highlighted the importance of the problem caused by the road transportation sector with regard to the depletion of natural resources on the one hand and increasing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions on the other. Minister Al Mashnouk added that the solutions to such a Problématique are not so obvious and require the involvement and collaboration of both public and private sectors in improving air quality and on the importance of raising awareness and changing driving behavior early on, mentioning the Ministry's Draft Law on Air Quality Protection currently awaiting final endorsement by the Parliament's General Assembly.

The minister highlighted some facts and figures that emphasize the importance and necessity of this campaign:
-80% of the vehicle fleet in Lebanon (1.2 million cars) is owned by individuals (private);

-The average age of the current fleet of cars exceeds three years, noting that 63% of them exceed twenty years;

-The rate of car ownership is one car for every three people;

-The rate of increase in the number of cars for the next decade is estimated at 1.5% per annum which increases the weight of the challenge to avoid suffocation;

Dr. Toni Issa, president of IPTEC, introduced the activity that falls under the "National Campaign for Air Pollution Reduction in Lebanon through Efficient Energy Use in Land Transportation" previously initiated by IPTEC and that goes in line with IPT's corporate social responsibility policy aiming at increasing public awareness regarding air pollution reduction and efficient energy use in land transportation by focusing on issues related to eco driving, proper car maintenance, and the promotion of the use of clean, alternative and renewable energy solutions.

He added: At IPT, we don't only believes in Corporate Social responsibility CSR, also known as Corporate Citizenship and adopts them, but we went even further. We established the first of its kind research center in Lebanon, IPT Energy Center (IPTEC), to fulfill IPT's corporate social responsibility commitment. The issues we are tackling are in line with IPT's business activities in the oil sector with all its imminent challenges, difficulties and rising concerns. The focus on energy efficiency and conservation uses; the reduction of environmental pollution caused by the use of energy sources; the promotion of the use of clean energy solutions and alternative and renewable energy (...), are the major headlines adopted by IPT to achieve the concept of social responsibility.

Eco-driving License

Following the press conference, the campaign was launched through a road show with Virgin Radio at IPT Station - Dekwaneh, where both H.E. the minister of environment, Mr. Mohammad Al Machnouk and Aline Lahoud (campaign ambassador), engaged with passer byes to promote eco-driving behaviors and hand out Eco-driving Licenses. This will be followed by weekly activations on most IPT stations across Lebanon, to ensure that the message of the campaign reaches many Lebanese drivers.

In addition to offline engagement, IPTEC has set up a social media campaign to reach and engage with its primary audience, the youth, through online games and discussions. In order to extend its reach, IPTEC has collaborated with Fabriano to invite students to express, through art, their concern for the air pollution caused by land transportation and the solutions they propose. The collaboration with Beirut Marathon Association aims to show the importance of using non-motorized and healthier ways to move around in Lebanon.

IPT Energy Center (IPTEC) is a specialized research and development center in sustainable energy that carries out scientific studies on energy, oil and gas in Lebanon. IPT established this center to fulfill its corporate social responsibility by increasing knowledge on efficient energy use and its conservation and the reduction of environmental pollution resulting from the use of energy sources in Lebanon.