Mandating Less Tailpipe Pollution
ICE Phase-Out
Globally - city centers, other municipalities, and even entire states and countries are proposing, mandating, and implementing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle phase-outs - in new vehicle sales, and on roads.
These phase-outs are primarily bans on the new sales of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, although some city centers are shutting down certain city roads to ICE vehicles completely.
The push to have electric vehicles (EVs) be the main cars on the world's roads is driving the global ICE vehicle phase-out.
London was one of the first major metropolitan cities worldwide to seriously restrict and regulate polluting ICE vehicle emissions. London curbed the use of inefficient vehicles with high emissions on its city's roads, with the use of a congestion charge (implemented in 2003) and a low emission zone (LEZ). London's LEZ was launched in 2008.
Paris followed suit by regulating tailpipe emissions with Crit'Air, and eventually began banning older models of petrol and diesel vehicles from certain roads. Crit'Air has now spread throughout France. Similar momentum for ICE phase-outs in favor of EV-only and/or cycling and pedestrian roads can be found in Copenhagen, Madrid, and Mexico City (to name just a few of many global cities).
LEZs, such as those in London and Paris, are roads where ICE vehicles are still allowed for the most part, but tailpipe emissions are highly regulated. European emission standards for vehicles are strictly enforced in LEZs.
City centers proposing and implementing complete ICE bans on certain roads include Oslo, London, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen (among others). Some of the same European city centers are even going a step further, eliminating vehicles on their streets altogether, creating zero-emission zones (ZEZ).
A new trend throughout European cities is banning older, more polluting ICE vehicles from city roads, or completely eliminating ICE vehicles from certain city roads, in ZEZ. Roads are then meant for pedestrians, bicycles, electric micro-mobility, and, in some cases, zero-emissions vehicles. These zero-emission zones have regulations that don't allow for ICE vehicles at all.
In some cases, roads in a ZEZ are simply transformed into pedestrian and cycling zones, and vehicles are simply no longer permitted. In some cases, electric transit is a part of a ZEZ - electric and hydrogen buses, electric trams, and other electric light rail are still allowed.
Copenhagen has pedestrian and cycling-only zones that have existed for decades. London's Square Mile is also aiming to have a ZEZ. Additionally, the entire countries of Denmark and the United Kingdom (as well as a handful of other European countries) are planning on banning the sale of ICE cars by 2030. Norway has an even more ambitious goal - banning new ICE car sales by 2025.
In an ambitious move toward EVs and away from ICE vehicles, California will also start banning new ICE vehicle sales by 2035. California's move toward EVs in September 2020 includes a much more ambitious goal (100% EV-only sales), and is legally binding, as the measure has been passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor (the federal US goal is only an executive ambition).
California's target is more in line with the ambitious timeline of those European countries and cities that are pioneering the global ICE ban movement.
EV-only/ pedestrian/ cycling/ zero-emission zones are popping up in:
- Amsterdam (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads already in place, announced citywide ICE ban in 2019, older diesel cars target year 2020, ICE buses - 2022, all ICE vehicles - 2030)
- London (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads already in place, announced citywide ICE ban in 2017, target year 2030)
- Copenhagen (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads already in place, announced citywide ICE ban in 2017, target year 2030)
- Oslo (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads already in place, announced citywide ICE ban in 2019, city center target year 2024, entire city target year 2030)
- Paris (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads already in place, ban of diesel vehicles announced in 2016, to take effect in 2025)
- Brussels (cycling, pedestrian, and/ or zero-emission mass transit zones on certain roads)
- MORE...
Copenhagen will ban ICE cars by 2030, and have all-electric buses in their city fleet by 2025. Vancouver plans to ban new ICE sales and have all-electric buses by 2025. London plans to have 2,000 electric buses in its fleet by 2025. Many other European cities have similar plans to dramatically increase the share of all-electric buses (as many European cities now have diesel, diesel-electric hybrids, or other hybrid bus fleets).
Paris plans to put a ban in place by 2025 on older, more polluting diesel and petrol vehicles (built prior to 2010 & 2006 respectively). Now, Reykjavik is shutting down half of its gas stations (by 2025). Oslo expects to have a ban on ICE cars on their city center streets.
"The EU wants to phase out gas car sales by 2035, and many other countries have announced similar plans.
A gasoline vehicle phaseout is sometimes called an ICE ban - or an internal combustion engine ban. Many countries are planning for a diesel ban in addition to a gasoline ban for new car sales. The long list of countries planning to ban fossil fuel vehicles shows a growing trend of countries moving beyond gasoline to cleaner, cheaper alternatives." [quote from - coltura.org/world-gasoline-phaseouts]
The EU hopes to make its ban of new ICE sales effective by 2035. President Biden signed an executive order (in August 2021) that half of all new vehicle sales are to be all-electric vehicles, or plug-in EV hybrids by 2030, through a series of ambitious goals and mandates set by his administration.
Spearheading the global ICE ban were countries like Norway (2017), Denmark (2018), and the Netherlands (2017), which proposed banning new ICE car sales starting in 2030, well before many other localities. In 2017, the Norwegian Parliament's developed an ambitious goal that all new vehicles should be zero-emission vehicles. Many European cities have developed similarly ambitious EV targets, as mentioned above, spurring ambitious targets from their own, and neighboring, countries.
Global ICE Vehicle Ban Movement
In fact, ICE vehicles are either being banned in new sales, or less efficient, higher emitting ICE vehicles are being regulated/ restricted from many European countries' roads. California and other locations worldwide are joining in on the global ICE vehicle ban movement- see below list and map, generated as the EU-wide ICE ban was still just an idea. Here's a brief list of several pending ICE car bans in countries throughout the world (from - coltura.org):
- UK: plans to ban sales of purely gasoline or diesel vehicles by 2030 Scotland: plans to phase out sales of new gasoline vehicles by 2032
- Denmark: plans to ban gasoline vehicles by 2030, and hybrids by 2035; has called on the European Union to expressly permit member states to enact 2030 bans
- Canada: plans to end the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035, following plans by the province of Quebec to do the same.
- France: plans to ban sales of gasoline vehicles by 2040
- Germany: Bundesrat (upper house of legislature) passed resolution to only approve emission-free cars for use on the roads by 2030
- Iceland: plans to ban registration of new fossil fuel vehicles starting 2030; Reykjavik is eliminating half its gas stations by 2025
- Netherlands: all new cars must be emissions-free by 2030; Amsterdam is banning all gasoline/diesel vehicles from its streets by 2030
- Norway: plans to ban sales of gasoline vehicles by 2025 (currently 60% of new car sales are electric) [LIST FROM - coltura.org/world-gasoline-phaseouts]
Here's a more extensive list of pending ICE vehicle bans throughout the world:
"If humans have any hope of heading off the worst consequences of global heating, government action will be essential. Much to the consternation of the free market crowd, at the start of 2021 there are 31 national and local governments that have announced bans on the sale of some forms of transportation powered by internal combustion engines." [quote from - chargedfuture.com/countries-and-states-with-gas-car-bans]
GCT Featured Articles
Oslo, Norway – Eco-Capital
Oslo: Net Zero Future | Oslo has fleets of clean mass public transit - trams, electric buses and ferries - powered...
Read PostClimate Solution – Sustainable Agriculture
Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture | Sustainable ag. turns farms into thriving biodiverse lands that produce...
Read PostSustainable City – CHICAGO
Chicago might not be widely known as a green city, however, the city has a Sustainable Action Agenda, a vast network...
Read PostVauban and the Plus-Energy Sun Ship
Vauban is an exemplary sustainable town and a zero-emission district. Most energy for buildings is from rooftop solar...
Read PostRegenerative Agriculture
Regenerative ag. creates carbon sinks; turning farms into healthy ecosystems that sequester carbon with vibrant plant...
Read PostAustin, Texas – A Sustainable City
Eco-friendly Capital | Austin is emerging as a leader in renewable energy, community solar, and LEED building efficiency...
Read Post12 Ways You Can Help the Environment
Lower your carbon footprint, save energy, and help the environment. Here are 12+ actions for sustainable individuals...
Read Post10 Ways to Reduce Food Waste
by Jane Marsh | Significant amounts of food waste originate from cities. Urbanites can use food waste reduction methods...
Read PostModern Sustainable Waste Management Technologies
5 Ways for SMART Cities to Implement Sustainable Waste Management | by Jane Marsh | Cities are implementing zero-waste...
Read Post5 Categories of Change in Climate
Climate change is adversely affecting all parts of the earth. There have been dramatic increases in greenhouse gas emissions...
Read Post10 Ways Smart Cities Improve Worker Safety
10 IoT Technologies for Sustainable Smart Cities | by Jane Marsh | As the conversation around greenhouse gas...
Read PostProfiles in Sustainable Cities – San Diego, California
Sustainable cities, like San Diego, have eco-city designs that prioritize consideration of social, economic, and environmental...
Read PostOffshore Wind Farms in the United States | Block Island Leads the Way
First of many US offshore wind farms | The United States' 1st operational offshore wind farm is the Block Island...
Read PostClean Energy Jobs are UP, and RE cost is down
Clean Energy JOBS | The future of employment in the energy sector is in clean energy, energy efficiency, and renewable...
Read PostKamuthi Solar Project, Bhadla Solar Park; and the largest solar PV farms in India, China, and other countries
Featuring over 2.5 million individual solar PV modules, and on 2,500 acres, in the town of Kamuthi in the Ramanathapuram...
Read PostUsing Technology to Provide Clean Water to Cities
How Technology Can Help Cities Avoid Another Flint Water Crisis | Article by Jane Marsh | The green movement is influencing...
Read PostHow Safe & Clean is Nuclear ☢️ Energy?
When looking at climate solutions for clean energy generation, it is prudent to look at all clean energy sources. Nuclear...
Read PostMicrogrids spread across Africa
Developing Microgrids | As African nations push for rural electrification, many look to microgrids as a sustainable...
Read PostFuture Generations of Batteries
Next generation li-ion batteries | Next-gen lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries can charge quickly, are rechargeable,...
Read PostClean Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen (H2) and the Clean Energy Transition | Hydrogen created with clean energy is one of the most promising...
Read PostNuclear – necessary energy
Both nuclear and renewable energy are needed in the global energy mix to help fight climate change. In order to cut...
Read PostCOP21 – good news for the planet
NDCs and Net Zero Pledges | At COP21, commonly referred to as the Paris Climate Accord, nations sent representatives...
Read PostPlan for the Expansion of Smart Meter Infrastructure
Modern SMART Meters | Many buildings in America today still rely on inefficient energy infrastructure, such as older...
Read PostRecycling – how we are doing as a global community; waste-to-energy
Effective waste management strategies for cities include citywide recycling programs, circular economy strategies, as...
Read PostPermanent ban on new coal mines and other sustainability priorities
Strategies for mitigating climate change | What are the best strategies for mitigating global warming? How is the...
Read Post10 Sustainable Technologies Improving Air Quality in Cities
GREEN Tech for Healthy Air | Article by Jane Marsh | Cities are the heart of every global region. They are headquarters...
Read PostShortfall in International GHG Reduction Pledges
Is the World Going to Meet its Climate Targets? There is a substantial shortfall between GHG emission reduction pledges...
Read PostThe Global Fight Against Climate Change; NDCs and Net Zero Targets Worldwide
Nationally Determined Contributions | As part of the ongoing global battle against climate change, almost 200 countries...
Read PostBreakthroughs in Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal Technology
Solar - the most abundant renewable energy on the planet | Recently there have been dramatic breakthroughs in solar...
Read PostRenewable Energy – Breakthroughs in Wind Energy
Onshore Wind Farms - Cheap and Clean Energy | Onshore wind farms now provide the least expensive form of energy, renewable...
Read PostEconomy vs. the Environment
Economic growth does not have to come at the expense of the environment. Sustainable technologies (such as renewable...
Read PostDesalination – Clean Water for a Thirsty World
The two desalination plants featured below; one in Carlsbad (San Diego county, California - featured photo), and one...
Read Post10 Countries Promoting the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Why Is There A Need For EVs Globally? In its World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency identifies pathways...
Read PostSmart City Energy Infrastructure
Updating Infrastructure for Developing Renewable Energy in Cities | People-centered smart cities are cropping up worldwide....
Read PostEVs and the Future of Urban Transit
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure | What will be done to develop electric vehicle infrastructure? With cars that...
Read PostThe Role of E-mobility Trends in Decarbonizing Transport
Decarbonizing the Transportation Sector with E-mobility | It's no secret that transportation is a major source of...
Read PostPutting a Price on Carbon
Carbon Markets | Carbon cap and trade systems are regulatory policies in which countries, provinces, states, and even...
Read PostReforestation
Deforestation and solutions; including reforestation | Deforestation of our planet, for centuries, has led to issues...
Read PostThe UNFCCC
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Conference of the Parties | World leaders, dignitaries,...
Read PostCarbon tax – a levy on pollution whose time has come
Defining effective carbon taxes | A carbon tax is a levy in countries and regions on: fossil fuel power plants, oil...
Read PostImproving energy efficiency
Energy Efficiency Foundations for Green Building: Energy Star, LED and CFL Lights, LEED technologies When it comes to...
Read PostDecoupling and Divestment to Reach Sustainability
Economic Growth Without Environmental Impact Decoupling in eco-environmental terms can be defined as economic growth...
Read PostISEGS – A Shining Example of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Ivanpah Solar Electrical Generating System (ISEGS) Ivanpah Solar Electrical Generating System (ISEGS) is a 392 MW solar concentrated...
Read PostCar-sharing and Ride-hailing
Sustainable Commuting | Many ride-sharing fleets are converting to electric cars. Car-sharing (a.k.a. ride-sharing)...
Read PostCalifornia – Current Progress of a Climate Champion
Learning From California's Struggle to Balance Decarbonization With Energy Resilience | Since California passed the...
Read PostA Close Look at San Diego’s HERO Program
San Diego, Green Buildings, HERO Program | The importance of green energy for use in homes and businesses is becoming...
Read Post