Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reportedly announced that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles in the United Kingdom has been moved to 2030. The Prime Minister also declared that the sale of new hybrid cars will be completely banned by 2035. The announcement was made as a part of the new ten-point strategy for a green industrial revolution.
While the actual plan to ban the sale of combustion-engine vehicles was by 2040, but Johnson moved it to 2035 in February. The ban target is now shifted for the second time as he comes under the rising pressure to crack down on gas-guzzling vehicles to meet the UK’s goal of eradicating emissions that contribute to climate change by 2050.
The Prime Minister expressed in a statement that though this year is not going as expected, the UK is concentrating on the future and capturing opportunities to build back greener.
Accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, the UK leads the pack when it comes to the promises made by the government to eradicate cars running on fossil fuels. France aims to end the sale of new gas-guzzlers by 2040; California recently set its target to 2035, and Norway has the most ambitious goal to end the sale by 2025.
The green industrial revolution laid out by Johnson for the UK comprises a wide range of initiatives to enhance economic growth and address climate change. His strategy also includes the cutting of transportation emissions by investing in public transportation and discovering new ways to make ships and planes less polluting. Furthermore, the plan includes efforts to upgrade carbon-free energy, which will include offshore wind, nuclear energy, and hydrogen. Reports state that the plan will approximately cost £12 billion of government investment.
In his statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson added that the recovery of our economies and planet can and must go hand-in-hand.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/17/21572312/uk-ban-combustion-engine-vehicles-sale-electric-cars