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SUV Sales Hit Record High in 2023 Despite Global Efforts to Cut Emissions. 'The Guardian' reports that SUV sales hit a record high in 2023, comprising half of all new cars sold globally. Experts warn that the increasing popularity of the heavy vehicles will drive up carbon emissions responsible for global warming. An analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that emissions from SUVs made up for 20% of the world's carbon emissions in 2023. According to the IEA, if SUVs were considered a country, they would have been the fifth-largest carbon emitter in the world, ahead of both Germany and Japan. 'The Guardian' reports that urgent cuts in emissions are needed to combat climate-driven extreme weather events, which are already increasing in frequency. Despite this, SUV sales increased by 15% compared to a 3% increase for conventional automobiles in 2023. According to the IEA, the main reasons behind increasing SUV sales are “the appeal of SUVs as a status symbol,” automakers' marketing and perceptions of comfort. The IEA also points out that SUVs cause greater injuries in pedestrian collisions, due to the height of the vehicle's front end and take up more space in cities. While 20% of the SUVs sold in 2023 were either full electric or plug-in hybrids, the vehicles require larger batteries, which places a strain on supplies of critical minerals. In 2023, there were over 360 million SUVs on roads worldwide, which were responsible for more than 1 billion tons of carbon emissions, increasing by about 10% compared to 2022. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT