COP26: Governments, cities and industry pledge to accelerate zero emission transition

A list of 24 governments, 11 carmakers and 39 cities have all signed a COP26 pledge to go zero emissions with new car and van sales globally by 2040 and no later than 2035 in leading markets.

The announcement, made to coincide with Transport Day at COP26, was made by governments including the UK, Sweden, Norway, Poland, New Zealand and Canada. However, many major economies have not signed, including the US, China, Germany and France.

Major car manufacturers and businesses have also signed the pledge, including Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, BYD Auto and Volvo Cars, as well as ABB, BT Group, Tesco, Centrica, Sainsbury’s and more.

Håkan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars chief executive, said: "Our plan to be a pure electric car maker by 2030 is one of the most ambitious in the industry, but we can’t realise zero-emission transport by ourselves.

“So I am pleased to stand side by side here in Glasgow with industry colleagues and government representatives in signing the declaration. The time for climate action is now.”

Polestar, the electric vehicle brand established by Volvo Cars, has already called out other manfacturers for not signing the pledge.

Those that have not signed include Stellantis (Fiat, Chrysler, Citroen, Peuegeot, Vauxhall), Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Toyota.

Bristol, Scotland and Wales were the areas from the UK that signed up to the committment.

The full pledge and signatories are available to view online in full, but includes:

• As governments, we will work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission by 2040 or earlier, or by no later than 2035 in leading markets.
• As cities, states, and regional governments, we will work towards converting our owned or leased car and van fleets to zero emission vehicles by 2035 at the latest, as well as putting in place policies that will enable, accelerate, or otherwise incentivise the transition to zero emission vehicles as soon as possible, to the extent possible given our jurisdictional powers.
• As automotive manufacturers, we will work towards reaching 100% zero emission new car and van sales in leading markets by 2035 or earlier, supported by a business strategy that is in line with achieving this ambition, as we help build customer demand.
• As business fleet owners and operators, or shared mobility platforms, we will work towards 100% of our car and van fleets being zero emission vehicles by 2030, or earlier where markets allow.