Diesel cars in Lebanon

[aimee]

Why are diesel cars banned in Lebanon? I read this somewhere yesterday and can't work out why! You have to leave them at the border if you drive there.

[geofbob]

The ban on importing diesel cars to Lebanon seems to have been introduced in the 60s or 70s to stop their own citizens informally importing large numbers of used Mercedes diesel limousines for use as long distance taxis (a common form of public transport in the Middle East). No doubt, the ban had economic grounds, possibly because the Lebanese Government was losing some form of sales tax income. However, there is now an environmental dimension, as diesel fuel is generally seen as being more polluting than petrol, though this is disputed by some parties.

[rekstout]

Taxation is based upon emissions of carbon dioxide only, not the other rubbish that comes out as well such as unburnt hydrocarbons, ozone etc. The taxation issue is to get the uk's Carbon dioxide emissions levels down as part of the Kyoto agreement. A petrol engine is still less polluting from a ground-level perspective.

[rja211077]

rekstout is correct. Basically it's a trade-off between CO2 emissions (which may cause global warming) and local air pollutants such as fine particulate matter and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (which have health implications for people). Diesel is more efficient so less CO2 but more of the local air pollutants. Lecture over. Not that this bears any relevance to the original question as I'm sure the ban is nothing to do with the environment whatsoever and everything to do with money!