The launch event was attended by David Attenborough with the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, positioning the UK as a world leader on tackling climate change and delivering a call for international action to achieve global net zero emissions. The UK is to now bring forward the end to the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids, to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition is feasible, subject to consultation. The Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, also attended the launch event in central London.
“Hosting COP26 is an important opportunity for the UK and nations across the globe to step up in the fight against climate change” the PM said.” As we set out our plans to hit our ambitious 2050 net zero target across this year, so we shall urge others to join us in pledging net zero emissions. There can be no greater responsibility than protecting our planet, and no mission that a Global Britain is prouder to serve. 2020 must be the year we turn the tide on global warming– it will be the year when we choose a cleaner, greener future for all”.
The Prime Minister called for international efforts to reach net zero as early as possible through investment in cleaner, greener technology, preservation of our natural habitat and measures to improve resilience to climate change impact.
The Government will continue to work with all sectors of industry to accelerate the rollout of zero emission vehicles - helping to deliver new green jobs in the UK.
“This government’s £1.5 billion strategy to make owning an electric vehicle as easy as possible is working - last year alone, a fully electric car was sold every 15 minutes” said Transport Secretary Grant Schapps. “We want to go further than ever before. That’s why we are bringing forward our already ambitious target to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to tackle climate change and reduce emissions.
The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Conte will lead the discussion on the fight against climate change as part of the larger global alliance which makes up COP26.
The announcement from the Government to bring forward the end of sales of cars and vans with petrol and diesel engines was welcomed by LowCVP Managing Director Andy Eastlake.
“We welcome the Government’s proposals to bring forward the target for the ending of the sale of IC-engine cars from 2040 to 2035” said Mr Eastlake. “The target will be challenging for industry and drivers, but if we are to meet the 2050 net zero commitment we must raise our level of ambition in road transport. The intent from Government is to give some real clarity on this target and to really gather the widest views before responding in the summer. With this in mind, we believe that in this proposal ‘zero means zero’; the desire is for all new cars and vans to emit nothing under all circumstances as soon as feasible. The timing is what we need to pin down. Clearly this will present a number of challenges, but also opportunities.”
Mr Eastlake added that latest information on the fall in battery prices points to electric vehicles achieving price parity with conventional cars within the next five years. However, there are already very significant fuel and other cost savings for EV drivers so switching is already a good financial proposition for many.
Mr Eastlake said that, in simple terms, the aim for the typical driver in the UK would be that their next car should have a plug, and the one after that should have no engine.
“However, there’s a big job to be done; by the manufacturers in switching over production facilities over a short timescale and by organisations like LowCVP and others in making sure drivers, the energy system and key market players are fully prepared for the electric transition” Eastlake explained. “This shortened target will heighten ambition and focus minds to meet the challenges ahead.
Later this month, Italy will host the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Rome ahead of this year’s critical biodiversity summit, COP15, when countries from around the world are due to agree on a new global framework to protect plants and wildlife.
Today’s launch will also kick off a Year of Climate Action, with events to take place in all four nations of the UK, and businesses and charities encouraged to participate in the run-up to the summit in Glasgow in November.
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