The Hindu : International : U.S. cars produce half of world's CO2

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 30, 2006

International

International

U.S. cars produce half of world's CO2

Julian Borger

Washington: Americans represent 5 per cent of the world's population but drive almost a third of its cars, which in turn account for nearly half the carbon dioxide pumped out of exhaust pipes into the atmosphere each year, according to a report. U.S. cars play a disproportionate role in global warming because they are less fuel efficient than passenger vehicles used elsewhere in the world, emitting 15 per cent more carbon dioxide, and because they are driven further across wide open spaces, said the Environmental Defence watchdog group.

Americans drive 202 million passenger vehicles out of 683 million worldwide. The average U.S. passenger vehicle, with a fuel economy of less than 32kpg, travels 17,700 km a year, nearly a third more than cars elsewhere, according to the s report, Global Warming on the Road. With suburban sprawl far outpacing the growth of public transport networks, Americans are commuting more each year, shopping more, and driving further to the shops each time.

The boom in sports utility vehicles (SUVs) has peaked as a result of soaring fuel prices, but overall U.S. fuel consumption will continue to rise in the next few years, the study found.

More SUVs are sold in the U.S. than any other type of car, overtaking small cars in 2002. The report predicted that they ``soon will be the main source of automotive CO2 emissions,'' emitting the equivalent of 55 large coal-fired power plants.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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