Saturday, October 4, 2025
More

    Top 6 This Week

    popular+

    Car culture is driving us to disaster

    Sharing is SO MUCH APPRECIATED!

    By David Suzuki

    The climate crisis is too big to be remedied by individual actions alone. It requires government policies and regulations and international cooperation in everything from research to global agreements. One critical area where individual acts (including public advocacy) combined with government policy can make a big difference is transportation.

    Car culture has fuelled the climate crisis from the beginning. In the early days, large cars weren’t built just for luxury and big families; they were built to burn as much energy-dense oil as possible, fuelling a massively profitable, mutually beneficial alliance between Big Oil and the auto industry. An entire way of life was built around it, in the United States and Canada especially — with motels, drive-ins, suburbs and strip malls.

    Now, despite advances in electric and hybrid vehicles, tailpipe standards, better transit in some areas and more, emissions continue to rise, thanks largely to a boom in light truck and SUV sales. To keep the oil economy going, relentless advertising portrays trucks and SUVS as offering freedom, adventure and safety.

    According to a recent David Suzuki Foundation report, light-duty trucks (including SUVs and minivans) are one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions in Canada’s transport sector. Although emissions from cars went down by 47 per cent from 1990 to 2022, light duty truck emissions rose by 112 per cent. As of 2020, about 62 per cent of the light-duty vehicles on Canada’s roads were trucks, compared to 27 per cent in 1990.

    The report found vehicle upsizing has wiped out 39 per cent of fuel consumption reductions Canada would have seen from increased zero-emissions vehicle sales and fuel economy improvements.

    As the study points out, the trend is global: “the proportion of SUVs has grown from 22 per cent of light-duty vehicle sales in 2005 to over 50 per cent in 2022.” The average weight of vehicles has also increased. Between 2010 and 2022, SUVs represented the second-fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions globally, after the power sector — higher than heavy industry, heavy-duty trucks and aviation.

    According to the International Energy Agency, global SUV oil consumption rose by 500,000 barrels a day from 2021 to 2022, “accounting for one-third of the total growth in oil demand.”

    SUVs are also less safe than smaller cars. Pedestrians, cyclists and people in smaller cars, especially, are far more likely to be injured or killed when struck by or in a collision with the heavier vehicle.

    It’s clear that individual choices in transportation — resisting the onslaught of consumerist propaganda — can help in the necessary transition to less-polluting, more climate-friendly ways of living. Getting away from unnecessary SUVs and light-duty trucks is a start. But simply buying smaller cars, or hybrid or electric vehicles, won’t solve the problem. That’s where governments come in.

    If we’re to move away from the absurd notion that every person needs a tonne or two of metal, plastic, fabric, electronics and other materials to move around — worse when it’s inefficiently burning fossil fuels — we need efficient, alternative ways to move.

    Public transit is critical, along with good infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and people with mobility challenges. As we move toward these solutions, even those who need to drive, including emergency vehicle and taxi operators, will spend less time in gridlocked traffic, breathing less pollution. And considering the costs of a car and its depreciation, maintenance, insurance, parking, fuel and more, not having one can save a lot of money! Reducing car dependency also makes communities much safer.

    Growing technology may also help. Autonomous or self-driving vehicles could make more efficient use of cars for modes like taxi and ride-share services. And better urban planning can create more walkable communities, connected with good public transit.

    There’s a real danger that some of the progress made on things like vehicle-emissions standards, alternative transportation infrastructure, public transit, congestion pricing and electric vehicle quotas could be overturned by electoral outcomes.

    At the very least, we can all resist the corporate-consumerist push by Big Oil and Auto to keep us boxed into inefficient machines choking on fumes from gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks while we sit in gridlocked traffic. What’s really needed, though, is to replace wasteful car culture altogether with the many safer, healthier, more cost-effective alternatives.

    David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.

    Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.

    REFERENCES:

    Relentless advertising:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/story/its-time-to-regulate-ads-for-suvs-trucks-and-gas-fuelled-cars

    David Suzuki Foundation report:

    https://davidsuzuki.org/science-learning-centre-article/canadas-future-vehicle-emissions-standard-2024-35-impacts-on-vehicle-size-and-ghg-emissions

    According to the International Energy Agency:

    https://www.iea.org/commentaries/as-their-sales-continue-to-rise-suvs-global-co2-emissions-are-nearing-1-billion-tonnes

    Congestion pricing:

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/09/london-congestion-charge-traffic-cars

    Sharing is SO MUCH APPRECIATED!
    Baptiste Charbaneau
    Baptiste Charbaneauhttps://georgianbaynews.com/
    Director of Communications, and way more! Baptiste is a Chat Bot in learning mode.

    Popular Articles

    GEORGIANBAYNEWS.COM

    Popular Articles

    VIDEO | Biggest Megaprojects Under Construction in 2024

    The world is full of massive ground-breaking construction projects. These megaprojects are literally shaping our planet, so today we uncover the biggest of them...

    The Mother of All Yard Sales | Saturday, May 4th

    Thanks so much for the great efforts of our Collingwood Optimist Club!!! The Mother Of All Yard Sales is an annual event held at the...

    Town Hall Holiday Office Closure | Town of The Blue Mountains

    They would like to advise residents of upcoming service changes during the Holiday Season. Town Hall Town Hall will be closed from 12 p.m. on Tuesday,...

    Duncan Bristow VIDEO | Queen M – Could You Be Loved | Shipyard Amphtheatre

    Live & Original presents Amanda Keeles Thanks so much to our friend Duncan Bristow for his great videos! Live and free at the Shipyards Amphitheatre, located...

    CONTACT Community Services and the South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic team up to operate and manage Supportive Rapid Rehousing Program in the Town...

    Midhurst/September 26, 2024 – The County of Simcoe has partnered with CONTACT Community Services, with support from the South Georgian Bay Community Health Clinic, to operate and manage programs at the...

    County invests in regional hospice and palliative care services

    Midhurst/October 21, 2024 – Last week County of Simcoe Councillors presented representatives from the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance with a cheque for $427,782 towards building...

    Ally Vitally: Grocery Prices Set to Rise as Tariffs Take Effect

    Canadian Consumers to Feel the Pinch from New 25% Tariff Canadian consumers can expect noticeable changes in their daily lives due to the new 25%...

    30 NEXT LEVEL Electric Bikes that Will Blow Your Mind

    In this video, we showcase the latest and most cutting-edge electric bikes that are revolutionizing the cycling world. From sleek, high-performance road bikes to...

    VIDEO | WOW – Tech giants harness nuclear energy to power AI | BBC News

    Technology firms are increasingly turning to nuclear sources of energy to supply the electricity used by the huge data centres that drive artificial intelligence...

    Thornbury Summer Antiques Show | Beaver Valley Community Centre.

    The Thornbury Antique & Vintage Show is just over a week away!!! From mcm furniture, glassware, textiles, canadiana, automobilia, folk art, pinball, art to...

    Shipyard Social and Collingwood Terminals projects part of Collingwood Museum’s busy September lineup 

    Collingwood, ON – The Collingwood Museum invites you to celebrate a month of activities, kicking off with the annual Shipyard Social and special Collingwood...

    Rufus the Bull: Rufus and Redford have been separated. Let’s see how long it will last.

    Rufus and Redford have been separated. Let’s see how long it will last. We love to share our YouTube creators. While there isn't...

    Town of The Blue Mountains | Seniors Fair Returns on Wednesday, September 18

    The Town of The Blue Mountains is proud to once again host the Seniors Fair in partnership with the Blue Mountains Seniors Network on...

    Arts & Crafts Walk Returns to The Blue Mountains on July 6, 2024

    The Blue Mountains Public Library’s Arts and Culture Council (ACC) and the Town of The Blue Mountains are delighted to announce the much-anticipated return...

    Tennessee Brando: I Wondered How 1930’s Germany Happened… Now I Get It

    I used to wonder how 1930's Germany came to be. It makes more sense now. Support Tennessee Brando:   / tnbrando   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YffKcSJxt_8 Download my NEW ALBUM "The...

    Climate progress is unstoppable, despite U.S. election

    By David Suzuki Saying the U.S. election result is a blow to climate policy is a massive understatement. It could also spell trouble for the...

    Living alongside polar bears in the Canadian Arctic – BBC World Service

    In the polar bear capital of the world, melting sea ice spells transformation and danger. Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 https://bbc.in/3VyyriM...

    How an AI chip war could destroy the global economy | Chris Miller for The Freethink Interview

    Welcome to The Freethink Interview, an interview series from our sister channel @freethink where we talk to the new generation of builders, leaders and...

    Ask Gracelyn: What does feeling loved and appreciated look like in a healthy relationship

    Feeling loved and appreciated in a healthy relationship is a deeply fulfilling experience that stems from consistent, intentional behaviors and emotional connection. It creates...

    Greenland – The Nation Explained

    This video is the first release from a month-long international filming and research trip I took this summer. It's a project that's been long...

    DRIVER CHARGED WITH IMPAIRED IN COLLINGWOOD

    (COLLINGWOOD, ON) - Members of the Collingwood and Blue Mountains Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested and charged a driver with Impaired...

    VIDEO | Hunter Johnson avenges Worlds defeat, downs Staksrud for men’s singles gold.

    Watch the Men's Singles Championship match: (1) Federico Staksrud v (4) Hunter Johnson at the Veolia Milwaukee Open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRMh7YpsROk 🔔 Subscribe to our channel:    / @ppatour  ...

    Frankie Malloy and Friends shares “Let’s Find PURL, and BISCUIT a Forever Family”.

    Pawsome furiends!  Share far and wide to find our furry friends a new home – Love, Frankie Malloy Meet Purl Purl is a 9 years old female Medium Mixed Breed who weighs 26 kilograms. Hi...

    Frankie Malloy shares “Let’s Find Nikik and Miss Kitty a Forever Family”.

    Pawsome furiends!  Share fair and wide to find our furry friends a new home – Love, Frankie Malloy Meet Nikik Nikik is a 1 year old female Medium Mixed Breed who weighs 15 kilograms. Hi...