May 29, 2024 - Energy & Climate
SUVs are jamming up the road to Paris
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Surprising new data highlights how the rising global popularity of SUVs makes fighting climate change that much tougher.
Why it matters: Cutting carbon dioxide from transportation is needed to keep temperatures from blowing too far past Paris Agreement goals.
- But SUV growth is offsetting engine efficiency gains and vehicle electrification, fresh International Energy Agency research shows.
Stunning stats: If the 360 million-plus SUVs on the world's roads were a country of their own, their CO2 emissions would now be the fifth largest, per IEA.
- The units are heavier and typically use more fuel than other passenger cars; they hit 48% of total global car sales in 2023.
- In 2022 and 2023, oil consumption related to SUVs accounted for over a quarter of total global oil demand growth.
- "Around 30 million SUVs with internal combustion engines were added to the global fleet in 2023, comparable to the total number of electric cars on the roads today."
What we're watching: Electrification is making real inroads. Right now electric models are only 5% of the global SUV fleet.
- But they accounted for over half of all new EVs registered last year (a metric of sales).
The bottom line: These heavy vehicles make tackling climate change a heavier lift, but batteries may increasingly lighten the load.
