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UN report highlights alarming rise in Co2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles
A recent report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has unveiled a concerning 30% surge in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) since 2000, with trucks accounting for a staggering 80% of this increase.
The report, titled "Used Heavy Duty Vehicles and the Environment – A Global Overview of Used Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Flow, Scale and Regulation," was jointly launched on February 22 by UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The report indicated that Heavy Duty Vehicles contribute over 40% of on-road nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, more than 60% of on-road particulate matter (PM 2.5), and over 20% of black carbon emissions.
Despite comprising only 3.6% of the total value of the global automotive trade, HDV exports are anticipated to witness significant growth due to escalating economic activities and the rising demand for the transportation of people and goods. This trend follows the doubling of global sales of trucks and buses in the 15 years from 2000 to 2015.
Head of UNEP's Sustainable Mobility Unit, Rob de Jong, noted that “trucks and buses contribute to economic growth just about anywhere in the world, but ambitious regulations are needed to curb their emissions, causing major environmental and health impacts. The introduction of cleaner bus technologies can be a major driver for the global revolution to low- and, ultimately, zero-emission transport,” he said.
In many developing nations, the reliance on imported secondhand HDVs to expand vehicle fleets presents cost-effective mobility solutions. However, the report highlights the lack or absence of regulations and enforcement regarding the quality of imported used HDVs, amplifying their impact, particularly when dealing with aged, polluting, and unsafe vehicles.
While 25 African nations have implemented standards for used HDVs to address air pollution control, climate mitigation, and enhanced road safety, only four have fully enforced these regulations. Globally, only two countries have integrated used vehicles into their national climate action plans (NDCs).
The report marks the first global assessment by the UN of the scale and regulation of used HDVs and their impact on global air pollution, road safety, fuel consumption, and climate emissions.
