‘Wasteful!’ EU’s petrol and diesel ban targets the poor and will create ‘class division’

The European Commission proposed the targets in a package of climate change policies last year.

They were based around the proposal that new cars stay on the roads for 10 to 15 years – meaning that 2035 is the latest date that sales of polluting cars could stop without affecting the plan to have zero emissions by 2050.

The European Parliament will vote on the car CO2 proposals later this year, after which lawmakers and EU countries must negotiate the final rules.

Jan Huitema, the lead lawmaker on the policy told Reuters: “With CO2 standards, we create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers,” adding that it should make driving electric vehicles cheaper.