Expert Calls for SUVs to Be Phased Out of the Market to Tackle Transport Emissions

In the quest to reduce carbon emissions, the rise in electric vehicle (EV) sales has not been effective enough, according to Trinity College Dublin professor, Brian Caulfield. He explains that the increasing popularity of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is offsetting the positive impact of EVs, causing a rise in transport emissions just when they should be falling. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) interim energy balance report for 2022 confirms that the pace of reducing energy-related emissions in Ireland is too slow to meet the 2030 targets. The report also shows an increase in demand for road diesel, motor petrol, and jet fuel as pandemic restrictions ease, further increasing transport emissions. Even with major fuel price hikes, driving behavior has remained the same, highlighting the difficulty of getting people to switch to more sustainable forms of transportation. Prof. Caulfield calls for SUVs to be phased out of the market as they are more polluting than regular cars and are extremely dangerous. As SUVs continue to be the most popular type of car sold, additional taxes and parking restrictions are some of the measures that could be used to discourage SUV use. Even fully electric SUVs are not a solution as they are larger and produced in an emissions-intensive way. To achieve the necessary reduction in emissions, emissions must fall by 7% each year; otherwise, greater cuts in later years will be necessary to achieve the carbon reduction targets.