The problem with Diesel emission is well known. I myself worked aside of that subject and raised awareness as early as 2001. Numbers were already alarming with a 10 fold difference b/w engine type. 17 years ago… I am sure that people involved in combustion research and with an healthy civic sens had done the same in all corner of the industry. Fact are that nobody cared much among the public that kept seeing the cost incentive* as a rare sacred cow.
Then there was the industry and the political sphere seeing the massive switch to Diesel as a discreet protectionism measure. France and Italy nosed dive on this producing often the dirtiest Diesel engines for general consumer cars upon the very last day of a new regulation entrance (France) and the national oil industry began producing Diesel products by its own, securing their respective national market. It was seen by many as a win win strategy and those who raised alarm were simply dismissed.
The worst was when taxes incentive were applied only to Diesel – all private cars included. The market went down the cliff for really cleaner engine and the Eu R&D in that domain entered an Ice age.
The worst disaster is to come sadly. People generally figure it as another climatic thingy but both effects will have a synergistic effect, plaguing certain cities periodically to the point that Health and local economy will be affected. The forest of fingers will then start to raise pointing at each other and this could potentially become an international matter aptly discussed at the end. But then who will have another look at that ridiculous cost incentive?
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