Bronte Wells
Cars and vans are a major source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for around 10% of global CO2 emissions. In 2022, global CO2 emissions from cars and vans grew by 1.4% to 3.53 billion metric tons. Passenger cars are a significant contributor to these emissions, with road transportation accounting for 71.7% of transport emissions in the EU in 2019, of which cars contributed 61%. Cars and buses combined contribute 45.1% of transport emissions, while trucks account for 29.4%. Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity, with a significant increase in sales since 2017, and are proven to be cleaner than vehicles running on petrol. However, the production and disposal of electric cars can be less environmentally friendly, and the level of emissions depends on the electricity source. To reduce emissions, the EU has introduced new CO2 emission targets, aiming for zero emissions from new passenger cars by 2035.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global CO2 emissions from cars and vans in 2022 | 3.53 billion metric tons |
| Percentage of global CO2 emissions from cars and vans in 2022 | 10% |
| Average CO2 emissions from a passenger vehicle per year | 4.6 metric tons |
| Average CO2 emissions from a passenger vehicle per mile | 400 grams |
| Percentage of total EU CO2 emissions from transport in 2019 | 25% |
| Percentage of total EU CO2 emissions from road transportation in 2019 | 71.7% |
| Percentage of total CO2 emissions from road transport | 15% |
| Percentage of total EU road transport CO2 emissions from passenger cars | 61% |
| Average occupancy rate per car in Europe in 2018 | 1.6 people |
| Percentage of EU cars using diesel in 2019 | 67% |
| Percentage of EU cars using petrol in 2019 | 25% |
| Percentage of new registered passenger vehicles that were electric in 2021 | 17.8% |
| CO2 emissions from burning one gallon of gasoline | 8,887 grams |
| CO2 emissions from burning one gallon of diesel | 10,180 grams |
| CO2 emissions from cars as a percentage of total greenhouse gas emissions | 37.5% |
| CO2 emissions from cars charged on the average US electric grid compared to ICE cars | 1/3rd per mile |
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What You'll Learn
- Cars and vans account for 10% of global CO2 emissions
- Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total EU road transport emissions
- Electric cars produce less CO2 per mile than cars with internal combustion engines
- Cars and buses contribute 45.1% of transport emissions
- The EU aims to achieve a 90% reduction in transport greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
Cars and vans account for 10% of global CO2 emissions
Cars and vans are a major source of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for about 10% of total emissions. In 2022, CO2 emissions from cars and vans worldwide reached 3.53 billion metric tons, a 1.4% increase from the previous year. While emissions have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, the rise for the second consecutive year is concerning.
Road transport is a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions, with passenger vehicles, including cars and buses, being the dominant source. In the EU, transport was responsible for about a quarter of total CO2 emissions in 2019, with 71.7% coming from road transportation. Cars alone accounted for 61% of total CO2 emissions from EU road transport in 2018. The average occupancy rate of 1.6 people per car in Europe that year highlights the potential for reducing emissions through car-sharing or shifting to more sustainable modes of transportation.
To address this issue, the EU is introducing new CO2 emission targets aimed at cutting harmful emissions from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans). The legislation sets an ambitious path towards zero CO2 emissions for these vehicles by 2035, with intermediate targets of a 55% reduction for cars and 50% for vans by 2030. Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction, and their sales have surged since 2017, but efforts to improve fuel efficiency have slowed.
While EVs offer a promising solution, it is important to consider their entire lifecycle. The production and disposal of an electric car can be less environmentally friendly than that of a car with an internal combustion engine. Additionally, the level of emissions from EVs depends on how the electricity is produced. However, with the increasing share of electricity from renewable sources and improvements in battery sustainability, EVs are expected to become even more environmentally friendly.
The transition to lower-carbon electricity sources and the rise of electric vehicles offer a viable path towards reducing emissions from passenger vehicles. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global transport demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, making the task of reducing transport emissions even more challenging. Nevertheless, with technological innovations and a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation, we can offset the rising demand and work towards net-zero CO2 emissions from global energy by 2070.
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Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total EU road transport emissions
Transport is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for around one-fifth (24% according to some sources) of these emissions. Within the transport sector, road travel is the most polluting, responsible for three-quarters of transport emissions. Cars and buses are the biggest contributors to road transport emissions, with cars alone contributing 45.1%.
In the EU, transport was responsible for about a quarter of the total CO2 emissions in 2019, with 71.7% of these emissions coming from road transportation. Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total EU road transport emissions. This is a significant proportion, and it is worth noting that the average occupancy rate of cars in Europe in 2018 was only 1.6 people per car. Increasing this rate through car-sharing or shifting to public transport, cycling, and walking could help reduce emissions.
To address this issue, the EU is introducing new CO2 emission targets with the aim of reducing harmful emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (vans). The legislation sets an ambitious path towards zero CO2 emissions for these vehicles by 2035, with intermediate targets of a 55% reduction for cars and 50% for vans by 2030. These targets are part of the EU's broader efforts to achieve a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 2050 and achieve climate neutrality under the European Green Deal roadmap.
To meet these targets and reduce emissions from passenger cars, two main strategies can be employed: improving vehicle efficiency and transitioning to alternative fuels. Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction, with a significant increase in sales since 2017. EVs charged on the average US electric grid produce about a third of the CO2 per mile compared to similar ICE cars. However, it is important to consider the emissions associated with EV production and disposal, as well as the carbon intensity of the electricity grid used to charge them.
While the shift towards electric vehicles is promising, it is worth noting that the production and disposal of electric cars can be less environmentally friendly than traditional cars with internal combustion engines. The level of emissions from electric vehicles also depends on how the electricity used to power them is generated. Nevertheless, as the share of electricity from renewable sources increases, electric cars will become even more advantageous for the environment.
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Electric cars produce less CO2 per mile than cars with internal combustion engines
Transport accounts for about one-fifth of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with road travel accounting for three-quarters of transport emissions. Cars and buses are responsible for 45.1% of these emissions, with passenger cars being a major polluter. In the EU, transport was responsible for about a quarter of the total CO2 emissions in 2019, with 71.7% coming from road transportation.
Electric vehicles (EVs) produce less CO2 per mile than cars with internal combustion engines. This is because EVs have zero tailpipe emissions. However, generating the electricity used to charge EVs may create carbon pollution, depending on how the electricity is produced. For example, using coal or natural gas emits carbon pollution, while renewable resources like wind or solar do not.
The production and disposal of an electric car are less environmentally friendly than those of a car with an internal combustion engine. This is due to the intensive battery manufacturing process, which requires the use of fossil fuels to mine and heat the necessary minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. However, taking into account the average energy mix in Europe, electric cars are proving to be cleaner than petrol-powered vehicles.
According to the US Department of Energy, EVs create 3,932 lbs of CO2 equivalent per year, compared to 5,772 lbs for plug-in hybrids, 6,258 lbs for typical hybrids, and 11,435 lbs for gasoline vehicles. Additionally, EVs are expected to become greener as more countries add more clean energy to their mix. For example, a MIT report estimates that while gasoline cars will reduce their emissions from over 350 grams of CO2 per mile to around 225 grams by 2050, battery EVs could reduce theirs to around 125 grams or even 50 grams if the price of renewable energy decreases significantly.
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Cars and buses contribute 45.1% of transport emissions
Cars are a major source of pollution, with road transportation accounting for 71.7% of the EU's transport emissions in 2019. Within this, cars and buses contribute 45.1% of transport emissions, with trucks responsible for an additional 29.4%. This equates to around 10% of global CO2 emissions.
In the US, the transportation sector accounted for 39% of total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2023, with motor gasoline consumption making up 22% and diesel fuel consumption making up 9%. Similarly, in the EU, diesel vehicles made up 67% of road transport in 2019, with petrol vehicles accounting for 25%.
To put this into perspective, the average passenger vehicle emits about 400 grams of CO2 per mile, or 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. This is largely due to the burning of fossil fuels, with every gallon of gasoline burned creating about 8,887 grams of CO2. In addition to CO2, gasoline vehicles produce methane and nitrous oxide, which have a higher global warming potential than CO2.
However, there is a growing shift towards electric vehicles, which offer a viable option to reduce emissions. Electric cars charged on the average US electric grid create about a third as much CO2 per mile as gasoline-powered cars. As the share of electricity from renewable sources increases, electric cars will become even less harmful to the environment. The EU is also introducing new CO2 emission targets, aiming for zero emissions from new passenger cars by 2035.
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The EU aims to achieve a 90% reduction in transport greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
The transportation sector is a major contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for around one-fifth of total CO2 emissions. Within the transport sector, road travel is the most polluting, responsible for three-quarters of transport emissions. Cars and buses are the main emitters, contributing 45.1% of transport emissions.
The EU is committed to tackling this issue, with a stated aim to achieve a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is part of the European Green Deal, a roadmap towards climate neutrality. To achieve this ambitious goal, the EU has implemented a range of policies and initiatives. These include accelerating the transition to cleaner fuels, such as electric vehicles, and setting targets for increasing the share of renewable energy in the transport sector.
One key strategy is to make vehicles more efficient and change the fuel used. In 2019, the majority of cars on European roads used diesel (67%) or petrol (25%). However, electric vehicles are gaining popularity, with a significant increase in sales since 2017. The EU is also introducing new CO2 emission targets for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with an intermediate target of a 55% reduction by 2030 and a goal of zero emissions by 2035.
Another approach is to reduce the need for car travel by encouraging car sharing, public transport, cycling, and walking. This can lower emissions by increasing the average occupancy rate of cars, which was only 1.6 people per car in Europe in 2018.
The EU is also addressing emissions from other transport sectors, such as aviation and maritime transport. For aviation, the EU plans to phase out free allocations by 2026 and promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels, aiming for 70% of aviation fuel in EU airports to be sustainable by 2050. For maritime transport, the EU has set targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 14.5% by 2035 and 80% by 2050 compared to 2020 levels.
To support these efforts, the EU has implemented the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the world's first major carbon market. ETS aims to reduce industry carbon emissions by requiring companies to hold permits for each tonne of CO2 emitted, which they must purchase through auctions. Reforms to ETS include cutting emissions in covered sectors to 62% by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
Cars and vans account for around 10% of global CO2 emissions. Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total CO2 emissions from road transport in the EU.
The average passenger vehicle emits about 400 grams of CO2 per mile, or about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2.
Electric cars are gaining in popularity and are already proving to be cleaner than vehicles running on petrol. An electric car charged on the average US electric grid creates about a third as much CO2 per mile as a similar ICE car.
