Fossil fuel buses and lorries face sales ban from 2040

A group of 13 nations has set out plans to end the sales of diesel and petrol buses and lorries by 2040 — matching an existing UK pledge, and 10 years after the end of petrol and diesel cars.

Described as a “turning point for the global transport sector”, the countries will work together towards an interim target of having 30 per cent of sales of new medium and heavy-duty vehicles being zero-emissions by 2030, with 100 per cent a decade later.

The countries include: Austria, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay and the UK.

Steven van Weyenberg, the Netherlands’ minister for the environment, said: “For too long our medium- and heavy-duty vehicles were too difficult to decarbonise. But technology is improving fast and costs are reducing quickly.

“So now is the time to speed up. Not just for the climate. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air. This cuts both ways: investments now will lead to more green jobs in the coming years. I call on other countries to join our effort as soon as possible.”

It is hoped the agreements will help make meaningful progress towards reducing road emissions substantially and bring the sector in line to meet the goals of the Paris agreement and limit average global temperature rises to 1.5C above the pre-industrial era.