Emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from US cars and trucks soared 25% between 1990 and 2003 as more vehicles hit the roads and consumers flocked to fuel-guzzling sport utility vehicles, a US environmental group claimed, according to Reuters.
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Despite efforts to introduce cleaner hybrid vehicles, the biggest US automakers have failed to reverse growing greenhouse gas emissions, Environmental Defence told the news agency.
“Emissions keep rising despite factors that many people think should lower them,” said John DeCicco of the group told Reuters.
The report said GM and Ford vehicles led the increase in gases linked to global warming.
Carbon dioxide emissions from GM’s 2003 model year vehicles rose 6.3% to 6.4 million metric tons, while Ford’s increased 7.7% to 5 million metric tons, Environmental Defence reportedly said.
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By GlobalDataIn 2003, emissions from cars and light trucks topped 317 million metric tons, up 25% from 1990 based on federal government data, the group told Reuters.
Reuters said part of the 13-year increase is due to more vehicles on the road but Americans also bought more sport utility vehicles and minivans during that period, and they get fewer miles per gallon of petrol.
Automakers reportedly said they are doing their part by offering consumers new high-technology vehicles powered by cleaner hybrid, diesel and fuel cell engines.
“The auto industry is offering a vast array of highly fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles to the public, and those are available on dealer lots today,” Eron Shosteck at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers told Reuters.
Reuters noted that the United States is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which are linked to rising ocean tides, melting glaciers and wildlife extinction.
The majority of American carbon emissions are from coal-fired utilities and plants, but cars and light trucks accounted for about 20% of the total, the report added.
