The Formula One Teams Association is seeking to reduce the sport's carbon footprint by 15 percent over the course of three years.

Under pressure from existing and potential sponsors who want the sport to project a greener image, the teams' alliance commissioned Trucost, which was established in 2000 to "help organisations, investors and governments understand the environmental impacts of business activities".

"FOTA has used advanced techniques to measure greenhouse gas emissions across the sport, from the sourcing of raw materials to production, logistics and racing itself," said Trucost chief operating office, Dr Richard Mattison. "It has identified ambitious reduction targets and will be working to further improve its efficiency over time.

"Via this work, Formula One as a sport has demonstrated its commitment to becoming more environmentally efficient, and will continue to lead the way in developing innovations that will improve efficiency across the automotive industry globally."

"Formula One is fundamentally about efficiency," added the organization's chief executive, Simon Thomas, "how to squeeze performance within the restrictions of physics and the rules.

"There is a growing need to transition from fossil fuel dependency to an economy that is more carbon efficient. In keeping with this trend, the Formula One teams have collectively made a firm commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a significant way. This is consistent with Formula One's position as a leader in technological innovation and illustrates what can be achieved by organisations not traditionally associated with the environmental agenda. We also believe that the engineering excellence that exists within Formula One will have a part to play in the inevitable shift to more carbon efficient transportation."

According to its report, Trucost's research and analysis has shown that the "carbon emissions caused by testing and racing is a small proportion of the total carbon emissions generated by Formula One as a whole", however, it also says that it is "important to emphasise that this research and analysis has encompassed Formula One's entire supply chain.

"Formula One is, and must always be, the pinnacle of world motor sport," it continues. "Equally, Formula One cars have traditionally provided an exciting and productive development platform for new automotive technologies, and must continue to do so. Many of those new technologies have ultimately been introduced into consumer production cars.

"Turbocharging, fuel injection, variable valve timing and kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) have all been developed within Formula One, and it is the intention of FOTA, in collaboration with the FIA, that the sport should continue to pioneer technologies that are appropriate to the challenges faced by society today and in the future, and that are applicable to products that will benefit mankind in the longer term.

"Modern Formula One is and must continue to be all about efficiency - and, whilst Formula One cars are and must continue to be very fast and very exciting, it is also necessary and desirable that their engines and powertrains are and must continue to be as efficient as possible.

"With that in mind," it continues, "working closely with the FIA, FOTA has committed to working to develop new F1 engine and powertrain regulations that will require all entrants from 2013 onwards to fit their cars with engines and powertrains that incorporate technologies designed to enhance fuel efficiency. At the same time, revisions to the sporting regulations will enhance and incentivise the competitive benefit of further reducing fuel consumption.