Video

Why are cities full of SUVs?

SUVs are everywhere. They take up more space on the streets, consume more fuel, and cost more. But this is not just a matter of personal taste. It is the result of decisions made by governments and automakers over decades.

In the 1960s, the United States created a tariff to protect its domestic car manufacturers. This made it harder for lighter and cheaper European models to enter the market. That is when pickup trucks and vans gained strength. The law created room for the development of large, more profitable vehicles.

In the 1970s, the country approved rules to reduce fuel consumption. But these rules were stricter for regular cars and more flexible for light trucks. Automakers realized that by changing the shape of these vehicles, they could sell trucks with the appearance of a family car. That is how the SUV was born.

These vehicles use pickup truck platforms but are enclosed and comfortable inside. By law, they continue to be classified as trucks. This allowed them to avoid stricter environmental regulations. The result: more profit for the industry and more emissions for the planet.

In Brazil, some SUVs began to be designed with four-wheel drive and other features to fit into the pickup truck category. This allowed them to be sold with diesel engines, which are cheap and highly valued in the market. To achieve this, the vehicles became heavier and more complex. This increased their impact on streets and their cost to the city.

Heavier vehicles cause more damage to asphalt. According to roadway engineering calculations, a slightly heavier car can cause up to 60% more wear on the pavement. This cost is paid by everyone, not just by those who drive SUVs.

Today, nearly half of the cars sold worldwide are SUVs. Even electric ones follow the same pattern: they are large, heavy, and require more materials to produce. This reduces the environmental benefits expected from electric vehicles.

Cities are being shaped by this type of vehicle. More damaged streets, more pollution, and more space occupied by fewer people. All of this stems from choices made by governments and companies to ensure profit.

Want to see the full analysis of the global impact of SUVs?

Watch our full video on the subject and understand why SUVs have grown so much, who benefits from this trend, and what the impacts are on cities and the climate.

Disclaimer: The video is in Brazilian Portuguese, but simultaneous translation and subtitles are available in multiple languages.

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News

Egypt regulates green construction with incentives until June 2026

New policy makes urban sustainability a mandatory requirement in five strategic cities

In December 2025, the Egyptian government established a new regulatory framework for the real estate sector with a focus on sustainability. The measure, led by the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) and the Ministry of Housing, creates an incentive system aimed at accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices in the country’s construction sector.

The policy is part of the National Green Urban Development Strategy and is aligned with Egypt Vision 2030 and the country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The main technical instrument to be used will be the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS), an environmental certification system created to respond to Egypt’s specific environmental conditions, with an emphasis on water scarcity.

What changes in practice

Adherence to the GPRS system ceases to be optional and becomes mandatory as of June 30, 2026, in five priority cities: New Administrative Capital, New El Alamein, New Mansoura, New Damietta, and New Cairo. Until then, the government is offering temporary incentives valid until May 30, 2026, for projects that anticipate their adaptation.

The benefits include:

• Faster approval of licenses;

• Zoning bonuses, such as increased permitted height or density;

• Discounts on administrative fees;

• Facilitated conditions for the acquisition of public land;

• Priority access to green financing lines.

Rules for accessing incentives

The policy is aimed at new or early-stage projects, with less than 20% execution and an area larger than 50 feddans (approximately 210,000 m²). The exclusion of more advanced projects aims to ensure that changes occur where they are most feasible, such as during the planning stage, where environmental impact and technical flexibility are greater.

In addition, incentives do not apply retroactively to phases already completed in ongoing developments. The government’s strategy is clear: to prioritize structural changes and avoid public spending on punctual adaptations of older projects.

GPRS as the technical standard

Developed by the National Housing and Building Research Center (HBRC), the GPRS becomes the national reference system. The certification is based on seven evaluation categories, including:

• Water efficiency;

• Energy efficiency;

• Indoor environmental quality;

• Use of local and recyclable materials;

• Waste management and building automation.

Water efficiency represents up to 30% of the total score, reflecting the country’s strategic priority in the face of water supply challenges. The system classifies projects into four levels: Base, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Only Silver and higher levels unlock the main incentives.

Impact on the market and investments

Egypt has a real estate pipeline of more than US$ 565 billion, and the requirement for sustainable certifications in new cities aims to attract foreign capital aligned with ESG criteria. Sovereign funds from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as European investors, have shown growing interest in certified assets in the country.

In addition, Egyptian and international banks (such as CIB and HSBC) are structuring products such as green mortgages and sustainable bonds, which may be accessed under preferential conditions by certified projects.

Main challenges

Despite regulatory clarity, the implementation of the policy faces challenges:

• The supply chain still depends on the import of materials such as high-performance glass and automation sensors;

• There is a lack of qualified technical labor to apply and enforce GPRS criteria;

• There is a risk of higher housing unit costs, especially for the middle class, if incentives do not offset additional costs.

What is at stake

The incentive window created by the government until May 2006 is seen as a period of strategic transition. Developers who adapt their projects during this interval will gain access to benefits and be better positioned in the market.

After this date, certification becomes a legal requirement to operate in the country’s fastest-growing urban zones.