The Filthy Five: Toyota and Ford responsible for more emissions than Australia’s largest coal mines

Five car companies are responsible for more climate pollution that some of Australia’s larges coal mines, according to a new report by the Climate Council.

The Climate Council’s “Filthy Five” list includes Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Mazda. The think tank points out that it’s no coincidence that these brands are also some of the loudest opponents of Australia’s proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

The analysis shows that Toyota’s 2023 new vehicle sales alone are responsible for 547,919 tonnes of CO2 emissions, exceeding Narrabri Underground, Hunter Valley Energy Coal and Peak Downs Mines, some of Australia’s biggest. All up emissions from Toyota’s 2023 new vehicles exceed a staggering 46 Australian coal mines.

“Ford and Hyundai are runners up, with their 2023 Aussie sales estimated to be responsible for more climate pollution than 32 coal mines,” says the Climate Council.

“Renault-Nissan Mitsubishi and Mazda close out the filthy five with estimated climate pollution greater than 26 dirty coal mines and 20 of these climate wrecking facilities, respectively.

“Every year these companies are allowed to keep selling the same dirty and inefficient cars, their new fleets will keep pumping out this high level of pollution. Their cars also stay on the road year after year, cumulatively adding to our climate pollution burden over time.”

“The cars these multinational corporations sell are responsible for as much climate pollution in a year as dozens of big, dirty coal mines. Right now, they are getting off scot free because that pollution isn’t being regulated,” said Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie.

“It is no surprise that the ‘Filthy ‘Five’ car companies like Toyota and Mazda have been some of the most vocal critics of regulating vehicle pollution. They’ve used Australia as a dumping ground for their most polluting vehicles for years, while offering more efficient vehicles in countries that have regulation.

“That’s why Australian vehicles use 20 percent more petrol than American vehicles, which we pay for with our well being and at the hip pocket. In fact more Australians die from air pollution than in road accidents. 

“The transport industry needs to pull its weight in cutting climate pollution. That starts with the ‘Filthy Five’ giving Aussies more access to cleaner cars that are cheaper to run.” 

Shock report finds legacy car companies are bigger polluters than Big Oil

The revalations from the Climate Council come just after another damning report showed that Toyota and other major car makers are bigger polluters than bit oil companies.

The researchers calculated investment carbon intensity by dividing companies’ total estimated emissions by market capitalisation.

Using this metric, they found investments in legacy ICE car manufacturers were on average 18% more emissions intensive than investments in oil companies with Ford and Stellantis more than three times more carbon intense than Exxon Mobil and BP.

The same study also found that major fossil fuel car manufactures generate more emissions than entire G7 economies. The CO2 emissions from Toyota, Volkswagen and Stellantis combined are higher than the sum total emissions of the UK, France and Italy.