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Discussion of climate, how it is changing, activism around that, the politics, and the energy systems change we need in order to stabilize things.

As a starting point, the burning of fossil fuels, and to a lesser extent deforestation and release of methane are responsible for the warming in recent decades: Graph of temperature as observed with significant warming, and simulated without added greenhouse gases and other anthropogentic changes, which shows no significant warming

How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world: IPCC AR6 Figure 2 - Thee bar charts: first chart: how much each gas has warmed the world. About 1C of total warming. Second chart: about 1.5C of total warming from well-mixed greenhouse gases, offset by 0.4C of cooling from aerosols and negligible influence from changes to solar output, volcanoes, and internal variability. Third chart: about 1.25C of warming from CO2, 0.5C from methane, and a bunch more in small quantities from other gases. About 0.5C of cooling with large error bars from SO2.

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Global sales of polluting SUVs hit record high in 2023, data shows | Half of all new cars are now SUVs, making them a major cause of the intensifying climate crisis, say experts (www.theguardian.com)
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[–] zeekaran@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

SUVs are heavier. More mass equals more energy to produce and move. More energy is more pollution.

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Yeah that is true but I dont think it is a given that they are heavier. An awful lot of SUVs are just hatchbacks on stilts advertised as such to help people keep up with the jonses.

[–] skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 months ago

Electric cars are some of the heaviest on the road, right now, in fact. Sedan-sized weighing in at ~5000lbs.

SUV is a very broad and vague term these days, and all cars more and more look the same due to aerodynamic requirements.

Some Fun Facts:

  • Hyundai Venue is an SUV weighing in at 2606 lbs
  • On the other end of the SUV spectrum, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer weighs in at 6196 lbs
  • Tesla Model S Plaid sedan is 4766 lbs
  • Heaviest I've seen, Rivian R1T electric pickup truck is 7148 lbs

While automakers are indeed pushing SUVs of all shapes and sizes, and somehow people can afford to buy cars at today's prices, the source article is a bit disingenuous to suggest that a very huge broad category of vehicle is singly-responsible when there are many variables to consider, which they appear to have not.

Like, I'd never consider the Subaru Crosstrek an SUV, it's a small station wagon/hatchback with a tiny engine, but it's considered an SUV!

That being said, I prefer sedan/saloon-type cars myself.