SUV sales are canceling out the climate improvement of electric cars, according to Greenpeace

First Amendment: 11/29/2023 – 04:59

1 minute

This study, published on the eve of the COP28 climate summit, indicates that sales of SUV models from Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai-Kia have increased by more than 150% in the past decade, “in the opposite direction” to global efforts to contain carbon dioxide. emissions.

“The world’s largest automakers are recklessly diving into SUV production, pushing the planet toward climate disaster,” Erin Choi of Greenpeace Asia said in the NGO’s statement.

The report indicates that the number of SUVs in circulation in the world increased from 50 million in 2010 to 330 million in 2022, and confirms that this type of vehicle emits more than 900 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2021.

Greenpeace said that if this fleet of cars were a country, it would be the sixth most polluting country in the world.

Carbon dioxide emissions from SUVs belonging to South Korea’s Hyundai Kia, Germany’s Volkswagen and Japan’s Toyota reached 298 million tons in 2022, according to the NGO’s calculations.

The organization adds that in the same period, the CO2 emissions avoided through the use of electric vehicles of these brands are estimated at only 9 million tons.

The study does not take into account the emissions resulting from the manufacture of these vehicles.

“Hyundai, Volkswagen and other manufacturers should reduce the size of their SUV fleets while increasing their electric sales,” Choi asked.

Greenpeace is also concerned about the growing trend of electric SUVs, because these models have a higher carbon footprint than other electric cars, especially since their manufacture requires more steel.

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