Around 30 states, cities and car manufacturers want to switch completely to zero-emission cars by 2040. This is what they said at the UN climate conference in glasgow. But important players in the automotive markets are missing.
particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and CO2: internal combustion engines are responsible for many environmental pollutants
Climate-friendly mobility – named by this year’s COP host, uK prime minister boris johnson, as one of the priorities of the uN climate conference in glasgow. "Coal, cars, cash and trees" – it’s all about coal, cars, money and trees this time, says johnson. After declarations have already been made on coal and trees, this wednesday it’s the turn of cars. 24 countries, six major automakers and some cities and investors are setting the tone.
"Together, we will work to ensure that all new cars and vans sold are zero-emission by 2040 across the board, and in leading markets no later than 2035," the agreement states, says their statement published in glasgow. They want a "breakthrough in road transport" reach.
Ford, austria, new york or ikea: off for burners
Among automakers, signatories include mercedes-benz, swedish manufacturer volvo, chinese BYD and jaguar land rover, a unit of india’s tata motors, and u.s. automakers ford and general motors.
In addition to the UK, EU member states such as Denmark, poland, austria and Croatia, as well as a number of other industrialized countries such as Israel and Canada, joined the agreement. emerging and developing countries such as turkey, paraguay, kenya and rwanda also join in. states like california and cities like barcelona, florence and new york are also involved. And companies that invest in the auto industry or have their own fleets of cars, such as eon, ikea and unilever, also signed the declaration.
Due to the use of fossil fuels, the transport sector is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases. According to experts, a shift in mobility towards clean forms of propulsion is crucial for achieving international climate targets.
Germany and other "car countries brakes
However, China, the united states and germany, countries of particular importance to the automotive market, did not join the alliance.Germany will not sign the declaration at the summit, said a spokesman for the federal environment ministry. This is "the result of the government’s internal review".
No end for the internal combustion engine in germany
Within the still caretaker government, there is still a dispute over so-called e-fuels, i.e. fuels for engines derived from renewable energy sources. The previous evening, transport minister andreas scheuer (CSU) had already rejected the glasgow alliance’s proposal. the declaration does not take into account synthetic fuels, scheuer complained: "fossil fuels will be phased out in 2035. But combustion technology is still needed." that’s why his ministry is against it.
Leading car manufacturers do not join in
German automaker BMW is also unlikely to join the pledge. Auto industry sources said some manufacturers are wary of the paper because it commits to a costly technology shift, but lacks a similar commitment from governments to ensure the necessary charging and grid infrastructure is built to support electric vehicles.
Too little charging infrastructure for e-cars in germany, german carmakers complain
The world’s leading automakers, volkswagen and toyota, also failed to sign the declaration. The world’s fourth-largest automaker, stellantis, is also absent, as are the Japanese automakers honda and nissan, and the Korean company hyundai.
Kohei yoshina, managing director of toyota’s zero emissions division, told the AFP news agency that developing countries such as africa and latin america need time to build infrastructure for electric, battery and fuel-cell vehicles. "More important than a joint declaration is that each actor tries to make an effort towards CO2 neutrality." according to yoshina, there are several ways to achieve this goal.
Praise and criticism from environmental organizations
Martin kaiser, executive director of greenpeace germany, on the other hand, called the absence of the leading countries and manufacturers in the automotive industry "worrying. "To stop fossil fuel production, we need to end our dependence as soon as possible", kaiser said. "This means that we have to move away from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles and the creation of clean transport networks."
Jennifer eison of action for the climate emergency, a nonprofit organization in the u.S., welcomed the agreement on the phase-out of incinerators in a DW interview in glasgow, but criticized the u.S. stance. "I think the fact that so many countries are now committing to this is courageous and the kind of action we need now. I find it quite disappointing to hear that the united states has not yet committed to this pledge. I hope that this will change before the end of the COP."
subsequent pledges in glasgow are not out of the question: last tuesday, for example, only after days of hesitation did germany sign a declaration to end funding for oil and gas projects abroad.