UK set to move petrol and diesel ban forward to 2030

15th November 2020 | Commercial Energy

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to move the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars forward to 2030, as part of a raft of new policy announcements to drive the UK towards its net-zero target. Reports emerged in the Financial Times that Johnson is expected to confirm the new deadline for sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles this week. The new 2030 date would assist with the UK’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Transport is the UK’s largest emitting sector, accounting for more than 30% of national carbon emissions. While this does include aviation, road vehicles account for around 19% of all UK emissions. Under Theresa May, the UK Government head initially introduced the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales with a 2040 deadline. Following criticism from green groups, including its won Committee on Climate Change, over the policy’s alignment with the UK’s 2050 net-zero target, Johnson move in February to alter the deadline to 2035. 2035 is the date cited by the CCC in its initial recommendations framework on legislating for net-zero by mid-century.

Diesel ban

According to the Financial Times, which cites Whitehall sources, the 2030 diesel and petrol ban is one of the many new environmental policies expected to be publishes this week.

Last week, Johnson confirmed that a 10-point plan would be published “shortly”, detailing how a focus on green markets will “not only create thousands of British jobs but also invigorate our plans to achieve net-zero by 2050.” The PM has already unveiled plans for every home in the UK to be powered with electricity from offshore wind farms within the decade and has unveiled a £160m pot to support the sector. This commitment has seen the Government increase its 2030 target installed offshore wind capacity from 30GW to 40GW.

More information available on the website below

https://www.edie.net/news/8/UK-set-to-move-petrol-and-diesel-ban-forward-to-2030/