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New diesel and petrol vehicles to be banned from 2040 in UK New diesel and petrol vehicles to be banned from 2040 in UK
(about 1 hour later)
New diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned in the UK from 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution, the government has announced.New diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned in the UK from 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution, the government has announced.
Ministers have also unveiled a £255m fund to help councils tackle emissions, including the potential for charging zones for the dirtiest vehicles.Ministers have also unveiled a £255m fund to help councils tackle emissions, including the potential for charging zones for the dirtiest vehicles.
The £3bn clean air strategy does not include a scrappage scheme, calling previous ones "poor value" for money. But the £3bn clean air strategy does not include a scrappage scheme, calling previous ones "poor value" for money.
Campaigners said the measures were promising, but did not go far enough. Local government leaders welcomed the funding but called for more detail.
The government report favouring electric cars has been released before a High Court deadline. Local authorities will be given direct financial support from the government, with £40m of the fund being made immediately.
After a protracted legal battle, the government was ordered by the courts to produce new plans to tackle illegal levels of harmful pollutant nitrogen dioxide. They can use the funds for a range of measures, such as changing road layouts, implementing new technologies or encouraging residents on to public transport.
Judges agreed with environmental campaigners that previous plans were insufficient to meet EU pollution limits. If those measures do not cut emissions enough, charging zones could be the next step - but the government says these should only be used for "limited periods".
Ministers had to set out their draft clean air strategy plans in May, with the final measures due by 31 July. The timetable for councils to come up with initial plans has been cut from 18 months to eight, with the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) wanting to "inject additional urgency" into the process.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the government would give more than £200m to local authorities to draw up plans to tackle particular roads with high pollution. It follows the government being given its own deadline of 31 July after High Court judges said it was failing to meet EU pollution limits.
"What we're saying to local authorities is come up with an imaginative solution to these proposals," he told the Today programme. The funding pot will come from changes to tax on diesel vehicles and the reprioritising departmental budgets - the exact details will be announced later in the year.
Asked if there could be charges for drivers of certain vehicles he said: "I don't believe that it is necessary... but we will work with local authorities in order to determine what the best approach is." Local Government Association environment spokesman Martin Tett said the plans to allow councils to switch their focus from monitoring air quality to improving air quality was the right move and welcomed the additional funding.
Local measures could include altering buses and other transport to make them cleaner, changing road layouts, altering features such as speed humps, and re-programming traffic lights to make vehicle-flow smoother. However, he opposed the view of the government to hold off on a scrappage scheme, arguing "this immediate intervention could help increase the uptake of lower emission vehicles".
Although a scrappage scheme is not included, there will be a consultation and the idea is expected to be revisited in the autumn.
Industry interestsIndustry interests
Ministers have been wary of being seen to "punish" drivers of diesel cars, who, they argue, bought the vehicles after being encouraged to by the last Labour government because they produced lower carbon emissions.Ministers have been wary of being seen to "punish" drivers of diesel cars, who, they argue, bought the vehicles after being encouraged to by the last Labour government because they produced lower carbon emissions.
The industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said it was important to avoid outright bans on diesels, which would hurt the sector.The industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said it was important to avoid outright bans on diesels, which would hurt the sector.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles was growing but still at a very low level.SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles was growing but still at a very low level.
"The industry instead wants a positive approach which gives consumers incentives to purchase these cars. We could undermine the UK's successful automotive sector if we don't allow enough time for the industry to adjust.""The industry instead wants a positive approach which gives consumers incentives to purchase these cars. We could undermine the UK's successful automotive sector if we don't allow enough time for the industry to adjust."
The AA said significant investment would be needed to install charging points across the country and warned the National Grid would come under pressure with a mass switch-on of recharging after the rush hour.The AA said significant investment would be needed to install charging points across the country and warned the National Grid would come under pressure with a mass switch-on of recharging after the rush hour.
The UK announcement comes amid signs of an accelerating shift towards electric cars instead of petrol and diesel ones, at home and abroad:The UK announcement comes amid signs of an accelerating shift towards electric cars instead of petrol and diesel ones, at home and abroad:
AnalysisAnalysis
By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analystBy Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst
So how will the air be cleaned up? Plans for a diesel scrappage scheme for old vehicles have been rejected by the Treasury as poor value for money. They may be reconsidered in the autumn.So how will the air be cleaned up? Plans for a diesel scrappage scheme for old vehicles have been rejected by the Treasury as poor value for money. They may be reconsidered in the autumn.
The government has told councils to solve pollution on their own streets by improving public transport and considering restrictions on dirty diesel vehicles at peak times.The government has told councils to solve pollution on their own streets by improving public transport and considering restrictions on dirty diesel vehicles at peak times.
If that doesn't work, councils will be told to charge diesel drivers to come into towns.If that doesn't work, councils will be told to charge diesel drivers to come into towns.
The councils aren't happy to take the rap for the controversial policy when it was the government that encouraged the sale of diesel vehicles in the first place.The councils aren't happy to take the rap for the controversial policy when it was the government that encouraged the sale of diesel vehicles in the first place.
Today's government plan is not comprehensive - it doesn't address pollution from construction, farming and gas boilers.Today's government plan is not comprehensive - it doesn't address pollution from construction, farming and gas boilers.
And clean air campaigners say the government is using the 2040 electric cars announcement to distract from failings in its short-term pollution policy.And clean air campaigners say the government is using the 2040 electric cars announcement to distract from failings in its short-term pollution policy.
Read more analysis from RogerRead more analysis from Roger
Air pollution is thought to be linked to about 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK, and transport also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.Air pollution is thought to be linked to about 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK, and transport also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
A government spokesman said poor air quality was "the biggest environmental risk" to public health in the UK.A government spokesman said poor air quality was "the biggest environmental risk" to public health in the UK.
2020s switch-over2020s switch-over
The measures are "good" in the long term but "not very effective" in the short, industry expert David Bailey said.The measures are "good" in the long term but "not very effective" in the short, industry expert David Bailey said.
A switch-over to electric cars would likely come in the mid-2020s, he predicted, when electric cars would out-compete petrol and diesel ones on factors like cost.A switch-over to electric cars would likely come in the mid-2020s, he predicted, when electric cars would out-compete petrol and diesel ones on factors like cost.
"This sets a very clear direction of travel, but petrol and diesel cars won't exist by 2040," he said."This sets a very clear direction of travel, but petrol and diesel cars won't exist by 2040," he said.
He said more incentives were needed now, otherwise urban air quality would not improve.He said more incentives were needed now, otherwise urban air quality would not improve.
Emissions hotspotsEmissions hotspots
Environmental law firm ClientEarth welcomed the measures, but said it wanted to see more detail.Environmental law firm ClientEarth welcomed the measures, but said it wanted to see more detail.
Chief executive James Thornton said the law found ministers must bring down illegal levels of air pollution as soon as possible.Chief executive James Thornton said the law found ministers must bring down illegal levels of air pollution as soon as possible.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas welcomed a ban but said it did not go "nearly far enough or fast enough".Green Party MP Caroline Lucas welcomed a ban but said it did not go "nearly far enough or fast enough".
Friends of the Earth said the plan was a "cynical" move which passed the buck of saving lives to local authorities.Friends of the Earth said the plan was a "cynical" move which passed the buck of saving lives to local authorities.
Labour said the government was only acting after being taken to court.Labour said the government was only acting after being taken to court.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman Sue Hayman MP said the government had a "squeamish" attitude to clear air zones, and was shunting the problem on to local authorities.Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokeswoman Sue Hayman MP said the government had a "squeamish" attitude to clear air zones, and was shunting the problem on to local authorities.
"With nearly 40 million people living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, action is needed now, not in 23 years' time," she said."With nearly 40 million people living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, action is needed now, not in 23 years' time," she said.
Do you have any questions about the government's new clean air strategy? Let us know.Do you have any questions about the government's new clean air strategy? Let us know.
Use this form to ask your question:Use this form to ask your question: