Cars can convey a sense of freedom and movement, not to mention style and status. But they also can have a big impact on the planet.
Cars consume a lot of energy before they ever make it to the open road. Automotive production leaves a giant footprint because materials like steel, rubber, glass, plastics, paints, and many more must be created before a new ride is ready to roll. Similarly, the end of a car’s life doesn’t mark the end of its environmental impact. Plastics, toxic battery acids, and other products may stay in the environment.
The good news;
We need to move away from fossil fuelled cars. Some countries have made major progress on the use of electrified cars. In Norway, 56% of new cars sold in 2019 were electric. Cars are also one of the most recycled products in the world - about 85% of all the materials are reused. Other industries could learn much from this.
https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/transport-and-tourism/cars-impact-on-the-environment/story (theworldcounts.com)