Australian vehicle emissions are even worse than official figures show and are likely to fall even further behind the rest of the world unless much more ambitious policies are adopted.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on vehicle emission standards
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SUVs now outsell standard cars three to one, as you can see on these graphs. Australian car park spots may soon have to be made 20cm longer, just to fit them all in.
A new study estimates a reduction in emissions of only 35-45% of pre-COVID levels by 2050. Lighter vehicles and faster uptake of electric vehicles can dramatically improve progress towards net zero.
The strategy is long overdue but falls short of meeting the urgent need to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles.
Soaring electric vehicle production is giving new life to old manufacturing plants that were all but written off in the United States. Australia is also in a position to revive its carmaking industry.
A steadily-tightening emissions car ceiling of the kind common in other countries could save drivers money and do the bulk of the work needed to reach Australia’s first emissions target.
Top contributors
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Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney
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Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology
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Transport and Cities Program Director, Grattan Institute
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Professor of History, La Trobe University
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Associate, Grattan Institute
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Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
