To mark transport day at COP26, 32 countries including the UK pledged their determination to ensure all new car and van sales will be zero emission by 2040 globally and 2035 in leading markets.
Major vehicle manufacturers GM, Ford, Mercedes, BYD, Volvo and JLR joined the commitment, as well as 39 cities, states and regions, 28 fleets and 13 investors.
However, the UK was by far the largest country by population of the 32 nations in the group with the next largest being Canada and Poland, and the rest made up of smaller nations of around 20 million people or fewer. Big names such as Volkswagen and the Japanese car manufacturers were also notable by their absence.
The UK is thought to be the first nation to commit to phasing out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes and under by 2035, with all new HGVs sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2040.
Research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commissioned by the UK COP Presidency and published today, shows the progress made in the passenger vehicle market:
- 31% of the global passenger vehicle market is now covered by vehicle manufacturer commitments to end sales of fossil fuel-powered vehicles, up from a near zero share of the market at the start of 2021
- global sales of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) have grown dramatically since 2019 from 2.1 million to 5.3 million
- ZEVs are forecast to be 70% of all new car sales in 2040, with this projection having doubled in the last 5 years
- 19% of 2020 passenger vehicles sales were in countries that now have an internal combustion engine (ICE) phase-out date, up from 5% in 2019
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: 'We know that transport plays a key role saving the planet from warming above 1.5°C, which is why this is the COP that will kick start our ambition for zero emission aviation and why I’m proud to be uniting world leaders to tackle climate change – creating new opportunities for clean growth, green jobs and improved air quality right across the globe.
'To support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), it’s integral that we have the infrastructure to support it. My vision is for the UK to have one of the best EV infrastructure networks in the world, with excellent British design at its heart.'
The UK Government also unveiled a new design for electric vehicle chargepoints. Created by the Royal College of Art and PA Consulting, the concept prioritises inclusivity and ease of use, designed with consumers, local government, accessibility groups and industry.
Other initiatives announced on transport day include:
- The UK Government announced a £4m initial contribution to the World Bank’s Global Facility to Decarbonise Transport – a multi-donor trust fund that will mobilise US$200 million over the next 10 years to support the decarbonisation of road transport in emerging markets and developing economies in the Global South.
- 30 countries agreed to work together to make zero emission vehicles the new normal by making them accessible, affordable, and sustainable in all regions by 2030 or sooner.
- Eighteen states, representing more than 40% of global aviation emissions, committed to work together to achieve a new aviation decarbonisation target through the International Civil Aviation Organization, as part of a new International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition.
- Nineteen governments stated their intent to support the creation of green shipping corridors – zero-emission shipping routes between two ports. Twenty-eight offshore wind industry stakeholders have committed to work together toward making zero emission operations and maintenance vessels a reality in the North Sea by 2025.
However, many criticised the lack of active travel on the COP26 agenda.
Green Party transport spokesperson Caroline Russell AM said: 'Transport Day at #COP26 could have been a powerful vision of a future for mobility without forced car use and ownership.
'Simply swapping out fossil cars for EVs will just mean more road danger, pollution (from tyre wear) and congestion.'
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