The rise in consumer use of SUVs made them the second-largest contributor to CO2 emissions increases over the past decades, according to a summary for the World Energy Outlook 2019. While passenger cars as a whole had a negative net contribution to CO2 output over the period, the SUV sector contributed more to emissions growth than heavy industry, trucking, aviation or shipping due to energy consumption 25% higher than medium-sized vehicles. SUVs were singled out as a counterexample to those who feel that energy regulations have unfairly targeted cars.
The rise in consumer use of SUVs made them the second-largest contributor to CO2 emissions increases over the past 10 years, according to a summary for the World Energy Outlook 2019. While passenger cars as a whole had a negative net contribution to CO2 output over the period, the SUV sector contributed more to emissions growth than heavy industry, trucking, aviation or shipping due to energy consumption 25% higher than medium-sized vehicles. SUVs were singled out as a counterexample to those who feel that energy regulations have unfairly targeted cars.