Opening ‘transport day’ at COP26 in Glasgow, a declaration has been made by 24 countries, plus regional governments and businesses, to accelerate the transition to 100% zero emission cars and vans to work towards 100% zero emission vehicle sales by 2035 at the latest in leading markets, and by 2040 globally.
While there is a range of signatories, most notable is that the majority of the World’s countries have chosen not to sign, including the biggest transport polluters – the USA and China.
The UK government says: “The COP26 declaration on zero emission cars and vans is a landmark global agreement launched by the UK COP presidency to signal the end of polluting vehicles.”
In signing the declaration, India says: “Two-wheelers and three-wheelers constitute more than 70% of global sales and more than 80% in India. All governments should also support the transition of these light vehicles to zero emission vehicles.”
Signatories: Countries
Europe
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Finland
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Turkey*
- United Kingdom
North America
- Canada
South/Central America
- Chile
- Dominican Republic*
- El Salvador
- Mexico*
- Paraguay*
- Uruguay*
Africa
- Cape Verde
- Ghana*
- Kenya*
- Rwanda*
Asia-Pacific
- Cambodia
- India*
- New Zealand
*Governments in emerging markets and developing economies (2040 deadline)
Signatories: Cities, states and regional governments
- Akureyri
- Ann Arbor
- Atlanta
- Australian Capital Territory
- Barcelona
- Bologna
- Bristol
- British Columbia
- Buenos Aires
- California
- Catalonia
- Catamarca Province
- Charleston
- Dallas
- Florence
- Gangwon Province
- Jeju Province
- La Paz
- Lagos
- Los Angeles
- New York
- New York City
- Northern Ireland
- Quebec
- Reykjavik
- Rome
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Santa Monica
- Sao Paolo
- Scotland
- Seattle
- Sejong City
- Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Government of Sikkim
- South Chungcheong Province
- Ulsan Metropolitan City
- Wales
- Washington (state)
Signatories: Automotive manufacturers
- Avera Electric Vehicles
- BYD Auto
- Etrio Automobiles Private Limited
- Ford Motor Company
- Gayam Motor Works
- General Motors
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Mercedes-Benz
- MOBI
- Quantum Motors
- Volvo Cars
Signatories: Fleet owners and operators or shared mobility platforms
- ABB
- Astra Zeneca
- BT Group
- Capgemini
- Centrica
- Danfoss
- E.On
- EDP
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Highland Electric Fleets HP Inc.
- Iberdrola
- Ingka Group/IKEA
- LeasePlan Corporation
- National Grid
- Novo Nordisk
- Openreach
- Sainsbury’s
- Siemens
- SK Networks
- Sky UK Limited
- SSE
- Tesco
- Uber Technologies Inc.
- Unilever
- Vattenfall
- Zenith
- Zurich
Signatories: Investors with significant shareholdings in automotive manufacturers
- Adrian Dominican Sisters – Portfolio Advisory Board
- AP7
- Arabesque Asset Management
- Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment of the Presbyterian Church USA
- Congregation of St Joseph
- Daughters of Charity, Province of St Louise
- EOS at Federated Hermes
- Impax Asset Management Group
- Local Authority Pension Fund Forum
- Mercy Investment Services Inc.
- NEI Investments
- Office of the New York City Comptroller
- Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment
Signatories: Financial institutions
- Aviva
- NatWest
Signatories: Other signatories
- ADS-TEC Energy GmbH
- AMPLY Power
- Autovert Technologies Private Limited
- Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Drive Electric Campaign
- Enzen Global Solutions Private Limited
- FIA Foundation
- Global EV Drivers Association
- Grip Invest Advisors Private Limited
- International Council on Clean Transportation
- Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change
- Indian Chamber of Commerce
- International Trade Union Confederation
- Ohm Mobility
- RMI India
- Urban Transport Authority for Lima and Callao
- WeaveGrid
The Declaration
“As representatives of governments, businesses, and other organisations with an influence over the future of the automotive industry and road transport, we commit to rapidly accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement[footnote 1].
Together, we will work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission[footnote 2] globally by 2040, and by no later than 2035 in leading markets
A. As governments, we will work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission by 2040 or earlier, or by no later than 2035 in leading markets.
B. As governments in emerging markets and developing economies, we will work intensely towards accelerated proliferation and adoption of zero emission vehicles. We call on all developed countries to strengthen the collaboration and international support offer to facilitate a global, equitable and just transition.
C. As cities, states, and regional governments, we will work towards converting our owned or leased car and van fleets to zero emission vehicles by 2035 at the latest, as well as putting in place policies that will enable, accelerate, or otherwise incentivise the transition to zero emission vehicles as soon as possible, to the extent possible given our jurisdictional powers.
D. As automotive manufacturers, we will work towards reaching 100% zero emission new car and van sales in leading markets by 2035 or earlier, supported by a business strategy that is in line with achieving this ambition, as we help build customer demand.
E. As business fleet owners and operators, or shared mobility platforms, we will work towards 100% of our car and van fleets being zero emission vehicles by 2030, or earlier where markets allow.
F. As investors with significant shareholdings in automotive manufacturers, we will support an accelerated transition to zero emission vehicles in line with achieving 100% new car and van sales being zero emission in leading markets by 2035. We will provide proactive engagement and escalation of these issues with investees, coupled with encouraging all our holdings to decarbonise their fleets in line with science-based targets.
G. As financial institutions, we confirm our support for an accelerated transition to zero emission vehicles in line with achieving 100% new car and van sales being zero emission in leading markets by 2035, supported by making capital and financial products available to enable this transition for consumers, businesses, charging infrastructure and manufacturers.
H. As other signatories, we support an accelerated transition to zero emission vehicles in line with achieving 100% of new car and van sales being zero emission in leading markets by 2035.
We will support efforts to achieve the road transport breakthrough announced by world leaders, which aims to make zero emission vehicles the new normal by making them accessible, affordable and sustainable in all regions by 2030.
Together, we welcome the new opportunities for clean growth, green jobs and public health benefits from improving air quality; and that this transition could also boost energy security and help balance electricity grids as we make the transition to clean power.
Collectively, we commit to supporting a global, equitable and just transition so that no country or community is left behind. Where we represent leading markets, we will work to strengthen our international support offer for developing countries, emerging markets, and transitional economies – including, where applicable, through technical assistance, finance, and capacity building.
We welcome strong policy and bold commitments, alongside greater levels of investment into research, manufacturing, supply chains, infrastructure and – where applicable – development assistance, that will all be required to make an accelerated global transition a reality.
We will work together to overcome strategic, political, and technical barriers, accelerate the production of zero emission vehicles and increase economies of scale, to make the transition faster, lower cost, and easier for everyone. We will also work together to boost investment, bring down costs and increase the uptake of zero emission vehicles and the many economic, social and environmental benefits it brings.
We recognise that alongside the shift to zero emission vehicles, a sustainable future for road transport will require wider system transformation, including support for active travel, public and shared transport, as well as addressing the full value chain impacts from vehicle production, use and disposal.”
Footnotes:
- We will make clear this declaration is not legally binding and focused on a global level
- For the avoidance of doubt, within the context of this declaration a zero emission car and van is one that produces zero greenhouse gas emissions at the tailpipe.
