The goal of the announced measure is to reach net zero by 2050.
For this purpose, the sale of diesel and gasoline vehicles with a weight of 3.5 to 26 tons is to be banned from 2035 and the sale of heavier trucks by 2040 at the latest, as the Ministry of Transport announced in London on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already announced a ban on the sale of classic diesel and gasoline cars for 2030 in November 2020.
Decarbonization is not just a technocratic process, said Transport Minister Grant Shapps. Rather, it is about contributing to the quality of life and a modern economy. “We will continue to fly on vacation, but in more efficient aircraft and with sustainable fuel. We will continue to drive, but increasingly in zero-emission cars. "
The transport association Logistics UK received approval. Companies now have "confidence and clarity about the steps they need to take on the path to net zero". The Road Haulage Association, on the other hand, was critical. The association supported the project in principle, but the way there was unrealistic, said a spokesman. “These alternative trucks do not yet exist. We don't know when that will happen and it's not clear what a transition will look like. ”Many companies fear high costs for new vehicles as the resale value of their current trucks collapses.
Great Britain is hosting the world climate conference COP26, which is to take place in November in Glasgow, Scotland. The meeting is considered an important milestone for reaching agreements on the concrete further implementation of the Paris Agreement.