Cars See First Carbon Emissions Rate Drop in Two Decades, But Overall Emissions Continue to Grow

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tony Kreindler, tkreindler@environmentaldefense.org, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791

(Washington – August 30, 2007) The rate of carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and light trucks in the U.S. dipped for the first time in two decades, but their overall contribution to global warming has continued to grow steadily since 1990, according to a new report released today by Environmental Defense.

The report, Automaker’s Corporate Carbon Burdens: Update for 1990-2005, shows that while the average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions rate from new vehicles fell 3% from 2004 to 2005, it remained up a net 1.5% since 1990. Leading this adverse trend were America’s Big Three – GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler – which all saw a net worsening of their fleet-average CO₂ emissions.

Bucking the trend were Toyota and BMW, which trimmed their CO₂ emissions rates while gaining market share. Toyota’s 3% drop in fleet-wide emissions rate from 1990 to 2005 was achieved in part by the Prius hybrid, but more so by incremental efficiency improvements to the Corolla. BMW’s fleet average CO₂ emissions dropped more than 12 percent due to efficiency improvement across its lineup along with the introduction of the Mini Cooper.

“The ability of Toyota and BMW to gain market share while cutting emissions is a clear example of innovative design paying off for the bottom line and the environment,” said John DeCicco, senior fellow, automotive strategies at Environmental Defense.

The report also tracks automakers’ overall “carbon burden,” a useful metric for measuring progress in reducing cars’ impact on global warming. Carbon burden reflects two key factors that contribute to CO₂ emissions: the efficiency of vehicles and the carbon intensity of the fuel they run on, as well as new vehicle sales. “A complete climate policy solution for the auto sector is one that results in progressively lower carbon burdens,” said DeCicco. “This can only be accomplished through climate-friendly innovations in both vehicles and fuels.”

Highlights from the report regarding the CO₂ emissions performance of the six largest automobile manufacturers (the Big Six) between 1990 and 2005 include:

• General Motors’ fleet average CO₂ emissions rate was up 3 percent while its market share declined by 10 points; while GM’s carbon burden fell 6.5 percent, it remained the largest overall.

• Ford’s CO₂ emissions rate went up 4.7 percent while its carbon burden dropped nearly six percent due to a seven point loss in market share.

• DaimlerChrysler’s emissions rate rose 4.8 percent and its fleet had the highest truck share overall.

• Toyota’s CO₂ emissions rate dropped by three percent and its carbon burden grew more than any other Big Six manufacturers’ – 125 percent – but that was due solely to increased sales.

• Honda’s growing truck sales pushed its emissions rate up 4.4 percent, but the company still had the best fuel economy among the Big Six, with a combined fleet average of 29 mpg.

• Nissan had the biggest jump in CO₂ emissions rates, 9.2 percent, among the Big Six due to growing truck reliance and declining truck fuel economy.

Full copies of the report are available on the web at: www.environmentaldefense.org/carbonburdens