The negative impact on the climate from passenger vehicles, which is considerable, could have dropped by more than 30% over the past decade if not for the world’s appetite for large cars, a new report from the Global Fuel Economy Initiative suggests.

Sport utility vehicles, or SUVs, now account for more than half of all new car sales across the globe, the group said, and it’s not alone. The International Energy Agency, using a narrower definition of SUV, estimates they make up nearly half.

Over the years these cars have gotten bigger and so has their cost to the climate, as carbon dioxide emissions “are almost directly proportional to fuel use” for gas-powered cars. The carbon that goes in at the pump comes out the tailpipe.

Transportation is responsible for around one-quarter of all the climate-warming gases that come from energy, and much of that is attributable to passenger transport, according to the International Energy Agency.

  • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I was going to say the Ford Fiesta but then I saw it was apparently axed in 2019? And took the Mazda 3 with it (same platform). I think you can still get the Honda Fit.

    Uh, as your attorney I advise you to buy a Miata. I guess.

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        The Golf isn’t exactly a small car, either. It’s just a Jetta with a hatchback. The real VW small car that we don’t get in the states is the Polo

    • Pacmanlives@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I would not recommend a Ford Fiesta. I have a 2012 and it’s laterally falling apart. Side mirror started to sag on the passager side guess it was a common issue. Trim around the windshield is dry rotted along with all the other trim. Only saving grace for me is that’s it’s a manual. The automatics liked to explode because of really bad Ford designs in that era of car. Focus has the same tranny issues as well