IEA boss calls for government action against SUV trend Putin has received approval to run for president

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has called for government action against the growing proliferation of urban all-terrain vehicles (SUVs).

“It is crucial to solve the problems they pose in terms of additional energy demand, use of public space and additional risk to pedestrians.” Birol told this on Monday to the newspaper “Les Échos” in Paris. States should advise customers not to buy SUVs and take regulatory measures in view of the trend towards heavy vehicles. This could take the form of higher taxes or higher parking fees.

“If you look at the transport sector in general, you see two very strong trends: the increasing importance of electric vehicles, but also the increasingly important role of SUVs,” says Birol.

According to IEA data, SUVs will account for almost half of global new car sales in 2023, at 48 percent. In Europe they even exceeded the 50 percent mark. Due to their higher weight and less aerodynamic shape, SUVs emit on average 20 percent more CO₂ like limousines. The IEA, based in Paris, is an interest group that advises industrialized countries on energy issues.

A citizen survey will take place in Paris on Sunday about the plan to charge three times as much parking fees for large city SUVs as for regular cars. The city states that the special rate of 18 euros per hour in the center and 12 euros in the suburbs should limit the nuisance caused by SUVs. At the same time, it is about sending a message to the car industry that the big cars are endangering ecological changes. (saw/sda/awp/dpa)