A freight train with new electric vehicles from the Volkswagen Sachsen plant in Zwickau stands next to the factory premises. The VW plant in Zwickau now exclusively produces electric vehicles from the Group, 14 July, 2022. Photo Credit: picture alliance/Getty Images
Environment LuxembourgPolluting Vehicle Sales Will Come to a Full Stop by 2035
In Luxembourg, the European Union (EU) agreed to enforce a slew of measures to curb emissions, including a ban on the sale of new vehicles with a combustion engine as of 2035, thus combating climate change and moving forward towards its ultimate goal to reach net zero by 2050.
“The Council also agreed to introduce a 100% CO2 emissions reduction target by 2035 for new cars and vans,” state all 27 ministers from member states speaking with one voice following a 16-hour long negotiation session.
As part of the EU’s objective to be carbon neutral by 2050, all vehicles with combustion engines will no longer be sold in Europe as of 2035. Germany added an amendment to the deal, allowing new cars that run on “CO2 neutral” fuels to be sold past 2035. Also, a new Social Climate Fund will be established to avoid low-income citizens from being financially penalized if energy costs increase due to the carbon policy. All member states can submit proposals as to how the $62 billion will be spent, whether it be by making homes more energy efficient or subsidizing zero-emissions transport.
