Former US Vice-President Al Gore has created quite a stir with his new film An Inconvenient Truth (AIT). Focusing on global warming and climate change he sets out to change our preconceptions of the effect we are having on the environment.

Despite reminding me of a school science film from the 1970s, the movie makes some very valid points. Rising above the art house precedent that previous worthy but dull documentaries have found themselves categorised, AIT pulls no punches in what it sets out to say, and has garnered critical acclaim wherever it has been shown.

Of course, no successful film would be complete without the obligatory celebrity fan, and they don’t come much bigger than governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie is already something of an environmentalist, having signed up in 2005 to an initiative to build California’s Hydrogen Highway refuelling stations, a state-wide infrastructure to offer hydrogen refuelling station access to private individuals across the state. Now it seems that the Terminator is going even further, with the announcement this week that the State of California planned to issue legal proceedings against six leading car manufacturers due to their greenhouse gas emissions.

The lawsuit is asking for ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ for damages to health and the environment. This may be viewed as nothing more than a nuisance for the present, but the legal disputes with the tobacco industry may create some interesting precedents. Certainly you can bet that General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan will be wheeling the big guns out in response – this is a story that is going to run and run. The fact that Arnie has recently sold his fleet of gas-guzzling Hummers shows how seriously he is taking the issue.

Mounting fears over carbon dioxide emissions and climate change, along with concerns about diminishing oil reserves, means that the time has come for everyone to think very carefully about their choice for their next car. Making the right decision now will help car buyers to reduce their carbon emissions, as well as saving them significant amounts of money on running costs and on the value of their car when the time comes for resale.

A handy website launched this week is trying to help potential new car buyers make an environmentally sound choice. Green-Car-Guide.com is designed to help motorists make an informed choice about environmentally friendly cars, saving them money on fuel and running costs. The fact is that the average motorist is confused about the best eco-car choices in the light of all the talk about carbon emissions, hybrids, biofuels and high petrol prices.

The site provides the very latest information about energy-efficient cars available in the UK and a wealth of resources to help confused car buyers understand what choices they have to become more eco-friendly. There is also latest news from manufacturers about new and forthcoming models, and updates on green car developments worldwide.

Websites like this can only be a good thing. With all political parties promising a commitment to the environment at their party conferences, the potential for the motorist to find himself on the receiving end of more legislation and taxation to encourage a greener alternative is going to be high, regardless of which party wins the next election. If you make the right buying choice now, you could save yourself thousands in the long run.

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