WASHINGTON -- Despite growing concern over global warming, major automakers still pursue product strategies that make the problem worse. Through 2003, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions -- a primary cause of global warming -- from U.S. cars and light trucks have increased 25 percent above the 1990 level. Both the total CO2 emissions and the average emissions per vehicle continue to rise. These are among the findings of a new report from Environmental Defense, Automakers' Corporate Carbon Burdens.
Analyzing federal data, the report examines what's behind the growing global warming pollution from cars. Among the six largest automakers, who account for 87 percent of U.S. sales, Nissan's new fleet-average CO2 emissions rate increased the most, rising 8.4 percent between 1990 and 2003. Ford's performance was second worst, with its average CO2 emissions rate rising 7.7 percent. DaimlerChrysler's rose by 6.8 percent and GM's did by 6.3 percent. Even as they pioneered hybrid-electric cars Honda's and Toyota's product strategies were still damaging overall, with their new fleet-average CO2 emissions rates rising 5.7 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, between 1990 and 2003.
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pressrelease.cfm?ContentID=4725
Posted by Dave at August 10, 2005 09:34 PM