Global SUV sales reached a new high, accounting for 48% of new car sales last year (2023), while also driving carbon emissions to a record high. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), despite the increase in electric SUV sales, overall SUV carbon emissions have increased, surpassing the 1 billion ton mark, making China the world's fifth largest emitter.
Global SUV sales surpass 360 million, with the craze extending to developing countries
The IEA's latest report indicates that developed countries' preference for larger vehicles has extended to developing countries. Because SUVs weigh 200 to 300 kilograms more than standard mid-size cars, they contribute to an estimated 20% increase in carbon emissions. If the global SUV fleet exceeds 360 million by 2023, oil consumption will increase by 600,000 barrels per day, exceeding a quarter of overall demand growth. Furthermore, indirect carbon emissions from raw material production and manufacturing are higher for SUVs than for standard cars.
According to IEA statistics, global SUV carbon emissions have remained at 900 million tons for two consecutive years, and will grow significantly to 1 billion tons in 2023. If SUVs are regarded as a country, their carbon emissions will surpass those of Japan and other major economies, and their ranking will rise one place to become one of the top five carbon-emitting "powers".
Although 20% of SUVs sold last year were pure electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, and the proportion continues to increase, larger vehicles require larger batteries, which not only puts pressure on the supply of core battery minerals, but also requires more electricity to operate, which in turn causes more carbon emissions.
Analysts Laura Cozzi and Apostolos Petropoulos of the report clearly stated that "although fuel efficiency and vehicle electrification technology have improved, the hot sales of heavier and less fuel-efficient models such as SUVs have almost offset the progress made in carbon reduction in automobiles in the past 10 years."
Electric SUV carbon emissions are increasing, not decreasing. Paris votes to charge higher parking fees based on weight.
Possible, a British nonprofit, believes the increase in SUV sales is partly due to automakers' marketing campaigns that reinforce the perception of SUVs as more comfortable and even as a status symbol, a view that aligns with the IEA's findings. James Nix, vehicle policy manager at the European federation Transport and Environment (T&E), is even more blunt in his criticism, saying, "Automakers are only focusing on making cars bigger and heavier in pursuit of higher profits."
In response to the fact that SUVs are hindering the global carbon reduction process, the IEA recommends using less materials to produce cars and setting fuel efficiency standards based on vehicle size. It also points out that countries such as France and Norway have already or are in the process of legislating to control the number of SUVs.
For example, the people of Paris voted this year (2024) to charge parking fees based not only on the length of time but also on the weight of the vehicle, with higher fees charged for 1.6-ton fuel vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and electric SUVs weighing more than 2 tons.
This article is reprinted with permission from RECCESSARY. The original title is "SUVs are the world's fifth-largest carbon emitter! Electric vehicle sales have increased to 20%, but why are carbon emissions increasing instead of decreasing?" by Lin Boyu. This article is not licensed under the CC license.
References：
1. The Guardian (May 28, 2024),Global sales of polluting SUVs hit record high in 2023, data shows
2. SNBC（2024/3/11），Paris has hiked parking charges on SUVs. Now cities like London are taking note
3. IEA（2024/5/28），SUVs are setting new sales records each year – and so are their emissions
4. The Independent (October 17, 2023),New SUVs are ‘reversing climate progress’ by emitting more pollution than old cars
Sources:
Environmental Information Center https://e-info.org.tw/node/239279
