The British government under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that it will not relax its net zero emissions targets and will stick to the strict timetable for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles. Despite pressure from some Tory MPs to relax the rules, the government is committed to enforcing a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, with binding targets for British carmakers to produce more electric vehicles in the coming years.
The plan calls for 22% of all new cars sold in the UK to be electric next year, rising to 50% by 2028. Car manufacturers that fail to meet these targets face fines of up to £15,000 per car.
Although there have been calls to delay or relax the rules, British car manufacturers are largely supportive of the measures. They recognize the need to stimulate the electric car market and want to give investors the opportunity to create more charging points.
Critics of the government’s plan argue that it is too isolated and that other countries such as the United States and the European Union have set themselves the goal of phasing out more flexible gasoline and diesel cars. However, the government is committed to prioritizing vehicle decarbonization to drive and succeed in the transition to a net-zero emissions economy.
To enforce the timetable, the UK government must vote on the Climate Change Act 2008 in Parliament. While some MPs may still vote against the planned rules, the government’s commitment to this transition remains solid.
