Planet is headed for at least 2.5C of heating with disastrous results for humanity, poll of hundreds of scientists finds
Hundreds of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) this century, blasting past internationally agreed targets and causing catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet, an exclusive Guardian survey has revealed.
Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), foresee at least 2.5C of global heating above preindustrial levels, while almost half anticipate at least 3C (5.4F). Only 6% thought the internationally agreed 1.5C (2.7F) limit will be met.
Many of the scientists envisage a “semi-dystopian” future, with famines, conflicts and mass migration, driven by heatwaves, wildfires, floods and storms of an intensity and frequency far beyond those that have already struck.
Numerous experts said they had been left feeling hopeless, infuriated and scared by the failure of governments to act despite the clear scientific evidence provided.
Unironically, that’s partly due to our emissions coding system. According to the system, a light truck with more seats gets more emissions allowance, incentivizing auto makers to lean into the larger class. That’s why there are so many extended cab pickups, yet so few two-seaters with an eight foot bed. We all know that six-seater Ram MegaCab or the Escalade that seats eight is often only driving one selfish person to work.
Its entirely due to people buying larger SUV’s.
Right, and the reason auto manufacturers are creating so many is because we incentivize emissions reduction by class, and light trucks allow for more emissions.
https://www.resources.org/common-resources/how-much-do-regulations-for-fuel-economy-and-emissions-incentivize-the-production-of-larger-vehicles/
Its because people are buying more larger SUV’s. Cars are still cheaper than SUV’s but consumers are choosing to buy bigger.
I don’t think you’re listening. Small vehicles are not sold in America anymore. When was the last time you saw a new two door car? Americans are buying larger vehicles because that’s the only option. That’s the only option because the fuel economy rules in this country are broken.
Ah no, see i specified SUVs. By a large margin most new vehicles sold are large SUVs https://www.motortrend.com/news/best-selling-cars-trucks-suvs-in-america-2023/
I know about the emissions standards exception for trucks and SUVs, its shitty. But there are still new cars being sold, cars that dont qualify for the more relaxed emissions standard, cars with a much higher mpg as a result, that cost less than the larger SUVs they are buying instead. Mitsubishi mirage or nissan versa are 2 that pop up. If consumers wanted smaller cars, that’s what we would have.
Keep in mind that the limited variety of smaller vehicles sold is an issue.
For example, I drive a Prius. I decided I’d like to upgrade to a nicer PHEV car, so I looked at Lexus’s offerings. It’s almost all SUVs, with the only PHEV being an SUV. The luxury equivalent to the Prius exists, it just isn’t sold in the United States due to low demand for smaller vehicles.
We’re not ready to jump to an electric vehicle yet, so I continue to drive my Prius and will drive it into the ground, despite it being pretty loud on the freeway.
Trying to find an AWD, non-SUV vehicle that doesn’t require high octane (let alone a PHEV) was like a pipedream when I needed to replace our old Impreza.
Having driven a Nissan Versa, they aren’t fun on the freeway, country roads or anywhere you’d be around anything the size of a standard SUV or current truck.
I think thats a lot of how we got here in the first place, the problem isnt the versa, its the big ass trucks and SUVs. People dont wanna get crushed by these monsters, so they get their own suburban tank. And every year the arms race of SUVs big enough to feel safe in gets worse. Thats just the American way, making life dangerous for everyone else so you can feel safe.
Grown-ass adults barely clear the hood of the huge trucks they sell these days.
A few years ago, a pedestrian getting hit by a truck would have a somewhat decent chance of rolling on top of the sloped frontend, which is much less deadly than taking all that momentum in the chest from a square wall of steel.
You can’t even get a small car if you wanted one :( Even mini coopers are just coopers now
Well, also, increased trans-oceanic shipping (lots of old ships still use bunker fuel, some of the nastiest fossil fuel on the market) and increased air travel and also plus too a bunch of wars keep happening.
I should note that we do have a solution to the first problem. But it’s predicated on the rapid deployment of a very modern kind of nuclear engine.
And that means replacing tens of thousands of old ICE engines. Which means spending money. Which private industry hates.
So don’t hold your breath waiting for any of this shit to change. But do hold you breath around bunker fuel, because jesus fucking christ that shit is gross.
by “it” I was talking about the trend of larger SUV’s
but on that topic, check out the breakdown of emissions by type of transportation https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58861#_idTextAnchor054