More than 30 countries expect to phase out combustion vehicles by 2035

As a way to combat the climate crisis, more than 30 countries, several of the major automakers, regions and fleet owners have pledged to phase out cars with use of Petroleum by 2035 during the summit COP26.

The announcement came during the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, chaired by Great Britain, which ensured in the text that the signatories promised to sell only vehicles with zero greenhouse gas emissions from 2040, and “in 2035 in the main markets.”

The agreement includes 31 countries, although the three largest markets such as the United States, China and Japan, as well as Spain, Germany and France, do not adhere at the moment.

Toyota, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi weren’t on the list either.

Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors and Volvo, which had previously announced commitments to discontinue manufacturing of cars with internal combustion engines, they did subscribe to this text.

According to the COP26 presidency, this agreement makes it clear that countries and companies that fail to rapidly electrify their automobile manufacturing during this decade will simply lose their current market share to competitors.

Transport accounts for a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, of which 89% corresponds to road transport.

Electrification of road transport is vital to halving carbon emissions this decade, in order to stabilize global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Zero-emission vehicles powered by renewable sources can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over the life of the vehicle.

Zero emission cars sold with today’s energy mix can reduce life cycle emissions by more than 50% compared to conventional vehicles.

These benefits will improve as the global power grid increasingly includes renewable energy to meet climate targets, according to the COP26 presidency.

With information from EFE and AFP.