Spain joins global alliance to make sales of all new cars and vans emission-free by 2040. Climate experts warn that to meet the climate targets, sales of electric cars must be increased fivefold.
The global alliance includes 200 countries, manufacturers and NGOs. Their aim is to make the sale of all new cars and vans emission-free. Moreover, this should be achieved in key markets by 2035 and globally by 2040.
Global Alliance builds on COP26 Glasgow plans
The alliance, called Accelerating to Zero (A2Z), was launched at the COP27 climate summit. This builds on the Glasgow Zero Emission Vehicles (COP26) statement. The latter was created during the previous climate summit to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars and vans from 2035 in key markets. All parties involved will also work to accelerate the sale of electric medium and heavy vehicles (buses and trucks).
Last year, this agreement was signed by more than 100 entities and 31 countries. However, the largest vehicle manufacturers, China, the United States, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Thailand, did not sign up.
Spain first automotive superpower within alliance
During the current climate summit, Spain was the first of these superpowers, and the second largest producer in Europe and ninth in the world, to join this global initiative.
This alliance builds on the legislation that is further tightened every year. At the end of October 2022, the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission agreed that after 2035 no new cars and vans with a combustion engine may be sold within the EU. The contribution of A2Z is all the more important as traffic is responsible for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Sales of electric cars must be fivefold
Climate experts warn that to meet the target of a maximum global warming of 1.5 degrees, five times as many electric cars and ten times as many electric buses and trucks would have to be sold.
Together with the agreements made within this alliance, a support package will also be released. This will be to help developing countries gain access to this expertise and investors to decarbonise transport.
