‘The appeal of SUVs as a status symbol’ – Record high sales of SUVs pushing up carbon emissions
Global sales of polluting SUVs hit record-high numbers in 2023, according to an analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Experts are concerned that the rising sales of the large, polluting vehicles is driving up carbon emissions and hence, global heating.
The study found that the rising emissions from SUVs in 2023 made up one-fifth of the global increase in CO2, making the vehicles a major cause of climate change. Climate-related extreme natural disasters are increasing, sparking the need for urgent emissions cuts.
“The appeal of SUVs as a status symbol”
If SUVs were a country, they would be the fifth-largest emitter of CO2, ahead of the national emissions of both Japan and Germany. Sales of SUVs increased 15% in 2023, compared to the 3% rise for conventional cars, reported the Guardian.
SUVs currently account for half of all new car sales. The IEA attributed the record high sales to “the appeal of SUVs as a status symbol”, marketing by automakers, and perceptions that they are more comfortable. But the polluting vehicles cause greater injury and take up more space.
Though about 20% of the SUVs sold last year were pure plug-in hybrids, the larger vehicles need bigger batteries, eventually putting more pressure on critical minerals and requiring more electricity to run, according to the International Energy Agency.
EVs are great. But lesser materials should be used too
The 2023 roads had more than 360 million SUVs globally, producing one billion tonnes of carbon emissions, up about 10% on the year before. Consequently, global oil consumption sizeably rose, accounting for more than a quarter of total increase in oil demand.
Sales of electric cars are rising and 55% of these were SUVs in 2023. It is important to shift from fossil-fuelled cars to electric vehicles to meet climate goals. But there is also a need for using fewer materials to produce cars to ensure a sustainable future.
