Nairobi
Although heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) exports constitute a modest 3.6 percent of the global automotive trade’s total value, their associated CO2 emissions have surged by over 30 percent since 2000, with trucks contributing 80 percent to this rise. Additionally, HDVs significantly contribute to environmental pollution, accounting for over 40 percent of on-road nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, over 60 percent of on-road particulate matter (PM 2.5), and more than 20 percent of black carbon emissions, as outlined in the report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on Thursday.
The report, titled ‘Used Heavy Duty Vehicles and the Environment — A Global Overview of Used Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Flow, Scale, and Regulation,’ jointly launched by the UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), offers a comprehensive global overview of the scale and regulation of used HDVs and their impact on global air pollution, road accidents, fuel consumption, and climate emissions.
It recommends strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of used HDVs on public health and the climate. While HDVs are anticipated to continue growing due to increased economic activities and mobility needs, the report underscores the inadequate regulation and enforcement regarding the quality of used HDVs imported by developing countries.
It reveals weak regulations and inadequate enforcement in over half of the used HDV importing countries, highlighting the need for stricter standards and regional cooperation to ensure cleaner and safer vehicles on the roads.
