08 February 2020
Earlier this year the UK government announced plans to bring forward the ban on new petrol and diesel car sales from 2040 to 2035 and expand it to include hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
The move was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the launch of the COP26 United Nations climate summit, which the UK is hosting in Glasgow later this year.
It follows advice from the Committee on Climate Change, who have been tasked with advising on what measures are necessary to help the UK achieve is net zero 2050 target.
The UK is not the only country to announce a ban on fossil-fuelled powered cars, with some pushing faster. Norway will ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2025 while Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden are amongst those who have opted for 2030.
At the same time many cities are taking action to cut pollution and improve air quality for their citizens, by introducing low and zero emission zones in their centres.
This includes Oxford, where Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have recently published final draft proposals for the UK’s first city centre Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ), to be introduced in December 2020.
The proposed ZEZ is shown on the map below in the area referred to as the “Red Zone”. Zero emission vehicles would be able to drive in the zone free of charge. Other vehicles would have to pay £10 per day to drive in the zone between 7am and 7pm. There would be discounts and exemptions for some road users, including residents.
The ZEZ will lead to cleaner air, quieter streets, contribute to action on climate change, and allow the councils to gain useful experience and information to inform future, larger phases of the ZEZ. The ZEZ Red Zone is just one part of Oxford’s journey to zero emission transport.
“2020 will be a crunch year for our climate and all our futures. We face a climate emergency that threatens all of our futures. For the sake of everyone in Oxford, and especially our children’s lungs, we must clean up the lethal air we’re all breathing. Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone will come into force this year and help make 2020 the year we make a game-changing difference.”
Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council
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