The goal of the announced measure is to reach net zero by 2050.
For this purpose, the sale of vehicles with diesel and gasoline engines and a weight of 3.5 to 26 tons and by 2040 at the latest the sale of heavier trucks is to be banned, as the Ministry of Transport announced in London on Wednesday.
In November 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a ban on the sale of classic diesel and gasoline vehicles for 2030.
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.