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Pour one out for the Earth while you still can. It’s been struggling for a while and our love of big SUVs is killing it. See how the world’s SUV addiction is taking a heavy toll on the environment at a rapid rate. 

The world’s SUV addiction is murdering the environment 

Forget cars and trucks, people around the world are turning to SUVs. The world’s SUV addiction hit a new high in 2023 as roughly half of new vehicles purchased were SUVs. 

An analysis by the International Energy Agency determined that rising emissions from SUVs in 2023 contributed to 20% of the global increase in CO2 emissions. 

If all of the SUVs were a country then the SUV nation would be ranked in fifth place as the world’s largest CO2 producer, coming ahead of Germany and Japan. 

As SUV sales improved by 15% in 2023, climate-fueled extreme weather conditions also increased. For example, in 2023, there were 91 tornados above the national average and 32% in violent wind storms. 

About 20% of the SUVs sold were hybrid or PHEVs. But larger vehicles need bigger batteries, so there was an increased pressure to mine critical materials with more electricity use. 

The Chevy Suburban on the road
Chevy Suburban | Chevrolet

Cars that use gas or diesel have become more efficient. However, the improvements are nullified as people switch to heavier gas guzzlers. 

Switching to electric vehicles could be a key solution if they require less materials. However interest in EVs is declining as people can’t get past range anxiety and limited ranges. Plus, electric vehicles are more expensive. 

France, Norway, and Ireland are working to control SUV demand. Paris took action by tripling parking fees for larger vehicles. London may follow suit if Paris’s actions provide positive results. 

People are attracted to SUVs because they’re a status symbol. Drivers also believe that SUVs are more comfortable than trucks and cars. They’re more spacious and believed to be safer as well. 

The Tesla Model Y was actually the most popular SUV around the world in 2023, followed by the Toyota RAV4. The RAV4 was the most popular SUV in America in 2023 with 434,943 models sold.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.