Race to Zero accelerates ahead of COP26

The race to go green is accelerating ahead of November’s COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow with some positive indicators of success, including the milestone of half a million ultra-low emission cars being reached on UK roads.

At the same time, more than 1 in 7 sales of new cars has been supplied with a plug in the first four months of the year, compared to 1 in 10 last year and 1 in 30 the year before.

Furthermore, the UK now boasts the second-largest EV market in Europe and has also been rated as best placed to switch from petrol and diesel to EVs, according to new research last month which looked at nine different countries.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “As hosts of COP26, we want to drive decarbonisation on the global stage, which is why we’re going further and faster to make the journeys of our future as clean as possible.

“With news that the half-a-million milestone has now been met, together with the UK now having the second-largest EV market in Europe, it’s clear that the shift to green motoring is accelerating at speed.”

Race to Zero accelerates

In a further positive announcement, it has been revealed that there has been a 47% increase in major companies signing up to the UN’s Race to Zero campaign to limit climate change since the UK took up the Presidency of the G7.

COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma, is urging even more companies to join the Race to Zero and establish plans to meet their commitments.

Addressing over 200 CEOs across the G7+ countries, he said: “In the fight against climate change, it is vital that we have the ingenuity, influence and energy of the private sector on our side.

“Analysis suggests that, together, 215 of the world’s biggest companies have almost $1 trillion at risk from climate impacts. Yet, those same companies have the potential to gain double that amount from the move to green economies.

“Joining Race to Zero is a clear statement that you can see the possibilities our green future presents. And that you are determined to take them. And it tells your customers that you are serious about genuine climate action.

“Take the opportunities presented by the low carbon economy. And play your part in this momentous year for climate action, the year of COP26, in making the goals of the Paris Agreement a reality.”

Fleet Alliance is situated close to the COP26 conference centre, and as part of its green commitment has joined EV100, a business-led drive to make electric vehicle fleets standard by 2030.

“We fully endorse the road to zero and will ensure we play our part in reducing climate change by ensuring that our managed fleet of over 30,000 vehicles will be zero-emission by 2030,” said Martin Brown, Managing Director of Fleet Alliance.

He added: “It’s very pleasing to see that electrification is surging ahead, but we want to make the process of decarbonisation even quicker.

“As a company, we have committed to moving our entire managed fleet to zero-emission by 2030, whether they are cars or vans. It’s ambitious, but we are convinced we shall do it.

“Meanwhile, these latest figures show that both consumers and businesses are increasingly taking the right steps towards electrified driving.”

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