Greenpeace organization’s recent announcement reveals a concerning trend. The significant increase in sport utility vehicle (SUV) sales by leading carmakers Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai-Kia is negating the environmental benefits anticipated from the shift to electric vehicles.
This report emerged just before the United Nations COP28 climate summit, aligning with findings from the Global Fuel Economy Initiative. This alliance’s research indicates that the popularity of larger SUVs hampers emission reduction efforts in the automotive sector.
Erin Choi, a Greenpeace activist, emphasizes the urgency of the situation, pointing out the rapid escalation in SUV manufacturing by these major automakers, which risks exacerbating climate issues. Greenpeace’s research emphasizes that SUVs emit about 12 percent more carbon dioxide than sedans, a concerning statistic given the doubled global SUV sales over the last years.
Precisely, Volkswagen’s SUV sales have surged by 270.5 percent, Toyota’s by 158.1 percent, and Hyundai-Kia’s by 152.4 percent. Remarkably, over half of Hyundai-Kia’s total sales now comprise SUVs, despite the company’s dedication to renewable energy use by 2045.
The report sheds light on the broader environmental impact of SUVs, attributing higher CO2 emissions not only to their tailpipe exhaust but also to the increased steel usage for manufacturing these larger, heavier vehicles.
Choi urges a pivotal shift in the automotive industry away from superficial eco-friendly claims. This call to action includes a cutback in SUV production coupled with a hastened transition to electric vehicles.
This declaration coincides with the United Nations’ projection of reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the early 2030s, a crucial threshold outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This forecast aligns with reports from the European Union’s Copernicus climate observatory, proclaiming the summer of 2023 as the hottest on record.
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