Offshoring emissions through used vehicle exports
Saul Newman, Kayla Schulte, Micol Matilde Morellini, Charles Rahal, Douglas R. Leasure
Abstract
Abstract Policies to reduce transport emissions often overlook the international flow of used vehicles. We quantify the rate at which used vehicles generated CO 2 and pollution for all used vehicles exported from Great Britain—a globally leading used vehicle exporter—across 2005–2021. Destined for low–middle-income countries, exported vehicles fail roadworthiness standards and, even under extremely optimistic ‘functioning-as-new’ assumptions, generate at least 13–53% more emissions than scrapped or on-road vehicles.
Topics & Concepts
OffshoringBusinessInternational tradeEnvironmental scienceNatural resource economicsEconomicsOutsourcingMarketingVehicle emissions and performanceEnergy, Environment, and Transportation PoliciesElectric Vehicles and Infrastructure