Despite calls for cleaner individual transport, new cars have massively increased in weight over the last 30 years. So how did our vehicles become so big? And why is it an issue for the environment?
Should we put an end to SUVs? On February 4, 2024, Parisians will vote on the creation of a specific parking tariff for sport utility vehicles (SUVs). These heavy, bulky cars, are now the best-selling in Europe, to the detriment of smaller vehicles, which are gradually disappearing.
This all while the amount of greenhouse gases produced by individual transport still has a major impact on the climate crisis. Big cars are being singled out. To counter their threat to the climate, European countries have tried to introduce new standards to reduce CO2 emissions… but without much success. So, how did our cars become so big? Why aren’t Europe’s regulations pushing the automotive industry in the right direction? And, above all, how can we achieve the goal of zero net CO2 emissions by 2050?
In this video, Le Monde looks at the latest figures to understand the reason behind the automobile’s rapid increase in weight, detrimental to the green transition.