COP26: India urges focus on curbing 2 & 3-wheeler pollution to achieve zero-emission goal

At the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, India emphasised the importance of focusing on emissions from two and three-wheelers, as well as other vehicles, as a part of a zero-emissions aim. India highlighted the need to focus on all types of vehicles on the road to greener transport in the Emerging Markets and Developing Economies portion of the 'COP26 declaration on accelerating the transition to 100% zero-emission cars and vans' released on Wednesday.

On behalf of the government of India, NITI Aayog voiced support for the non-binding COP26 declaration, which called for a global acceleration of the transition to zero-emission cars.

"Two-wheelers and three-wheelers constitute more than 70 per cent of global sales and more than 80 per cent in India. All governments should also support the transition of these light vehicles to zero-emission vehicles," said NITI Aayog on the declaration.

India aims at 100% zero-emission vehicles

Signatories of the declaration urged all developed countries to increase international collaboration and support in order to achieve a global, equitable, and just transition. At the UN climate summit on Wednesday, India also commemorated Transport Day by launching the E-Amrit webpage on electric vehicles (EVs), a one-stop destination for all-electric vehicle-related information.

As president of the COP26 conference, the United Kingdom declared that it will be the first country in the world to agree to phase out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26 tonnes or less by 2035, with all new heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) sold in the UK becoming zero-emission by 2040.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, remarked, "From our roads to the skies, the transition to zero-emission transport has reached a tipping point. We know that transport plays a key role in saving the planet from warming above 1.5°C, which is why this is the COP that will kick start our ambition for zero-emission aviation and why I’m proud to be uniting world leaders to tackle climate change – creating new opportunities for clean growth, green jobs and improved air quality right across the globe."

He stated, "To support the transition to EVs, it’s integral that we have the infrastructure to support it. My vision is for the UK to have one of the best EV infrastructure networks in the world, with excellent British design at its heart."

The UK government recently introduced a new design for electric vehicle charging stations, which might become as famous as the Great British post box, the London bus, or the black cab.

(with inputs from PTI)

Image: ShutterStock/EmissionCessation-Facebook