Dieselgate pollution killed 16,000 people in the UK: Study
Pollution linked to prohibited devices used by car manufacturers in the Dieselgate scandal led to 16,000 premature deaths in the UK, a new study has found.
A report published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) examined the health impacts of prohibited defeat devices on populations across Europe and the UK.
It estimates that between 2009 and 2025, 16,000 people in the UK died prematurely due to domestic excess emissions. A further 6,000 premature deaths are projected to occur from this year up until 2040.
These estimates are based on excess emissions, meaning they only account for the portion of diesel emissions that are considered suspiciously high and likely linked to the use of prohibited “defeat devices”.
These devices were made famous during the Dieselgate scandal which broke in 2015 with an investigation into Volkswagen vehicle emissions.
The investigation found that the car manufacturer was using prohibited defeat devices to foil emissions tests, causing its emission control systems to be switched off under real-world driving conditions but remain on during laboratory testing conditions.
Following the Dieselgate scandal, extensive emissions testing revealed that the issue of excess emissions and use of prohibited defeat devices was widespread across nearly all vehicle manufacturers.
It is important to note that the premature death figures above do not include the figures for deaths caused by standard emissions – they account only for the emissions linked to the use of defeat devices.
When considering real-world emissions, not just those linked to devices designed to foil emissions regulations, premature deaths caused by the vehicles included in the study are projected to exceed 300,000 across the EU and the United Kingdom.
Authorities called on to prevent further premature deaths
Dr Jamie Kelly, lead author of the study said this is a crisis with a long and lingering legacy.
“Without action, these impacts will stretch far into the future, affecting generations to come. It’s not too late to act.”
Governments have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to break this cycle,” Kelly said.
On Monday 26 May, four former Volkswagen managers were convicted of fraud by a German court for their part in the Dieselgate scandal. However, ClientEarth and CREA have called for more to be done by national authorities to address this injustice.
“Auto manufacturers have been trying to sweep the Dieselgate scandal under the carpet for too long,” said ClientEarth lawyer Emily Kearsey.
“It’s been nearly a decade – governments must stop stalling and hold polluters accountable now. The EU Commission also has a key role to play to ensure joined up action. If any recalls take place, the law makes it clear that it’s up to manufacturers to foot the bill.”
