SUV emissions, charted
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If the 360 million-plus SUVs on the world's roads were a country of their own, their CO2 emissions would be the fifth-largest of any nation, per the International Energy Agency, Axios' Ben Gemen writes.
Why it matters: The eye-popping new data highlights how SUVs' rising global popularity makes fighting climate change that much tougher.
Zoom in: SUVs — which are heavier and typically use more fuel than other passenger vehicles — 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.
What we're watching: Electric models make up only 5% of today's global SUV fleet, but they accounted for over half of all new EVs registered last year.
The bottom line: These heavy vehicles make tackling climate change a heavier lift, but batteries may increasingly lighten the load.
