Australia at Risk of Becoming a Dumping Ground for High-Polluting Cars

The Risk of High-Polluting Cars in Australia

Two centuries ago, Australia served as a dumping ground for British and Irish criminals. However, today the country faces a different risk – becoming a dumping ground for high-polluting cars. London-based think-tank Carbon Tracker warns that as China, Europe, and North America implement stricter regulations to transition to electric vehicles (EVs), automakers may turn to countries with weak or non-existent decarbonization targets to offload their old-tech, more-polluting cars.

Australia’s Reluctance to Switch to Electric Cars

Carbon Tracker identifies Australia, along with Russia, Turkey, South Africa, India, and several other countries, as nations that have made little effort to adopt cleaner cars. These countries’ reluctance to switch to EVs puts them at risk of becoming destinations for high-polluting vehicles. Furthermore, they may face challenges in importing used EVs from eco-minded countries due to recycling initiatives that prioritize keeping pre-owned electric cars within their borders.

The Financial and Environmental Implications

The report highlights the financial and environmental implications of countries without plans to phase out gasoline vehicles. By failing to contribute to climate change reduction and clean air efforts, these nations could find themselves trapped in a cycle that harms them financially. Carbon Tracker estimates that Africa, Asia, and South America combined could save over $100 billion on fuel imports and improve their trade balance by promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Recommendations for Accelerating the Shift to Electric Vehicles

Carbon Tracker recommends that governments in these regions take specific actions to accelerate the transition to EVs. These actions include introducing stricter emissions limits, restricting used car imports to relatively new vehicles, removing tariffs on EVs, and promoting local manufacturing of electric cars. By implementing these measures, countries can reduce pollution, save on fuel costs, and enhance their trade balance.

Sources: Carscoops, Carbon Tracker, Bloomberg