World’s largest transportation coalition includes over 200 signatories of governments and private sector stakeholders to supercharge transportation emissions ambitions initiated at COP26
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 17 November 2022 – Today the Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition was launched, the next step in securing more ambitious commitments to a zero-emission vehicles transition aligned with the Paris Agreement. Announced on Solutions Day at COP27, more than 200 stakeholders are signaling their commitment to a rapid transition to zero-emission transportation.
The A2Z Coalition connects the world’s leading organizations on zero-emission transportation, creating a platform to support in understanding, developing, and implementing ambitious zero-emission transportation policies and plans, and showcase leadership.
With transportation accounting for approximately 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, shifting the sector is crucial to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Over 200 organizations from governments, industry and civil society are joining together with support from the A2Z Coalition to accelerate the transition to zero emission transport.
The A2Z Coalition is a partnership of the UK Government’s COP26 Presidency, The Climate Change High-Level Champions, the International Council on Clean Transportation, Climate Group, and the Drive Electric Campaign working towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission no later than 2035 in leading markets and 2040 globally. A2Z Coalition’s partners also work on the acceleration of zero-emission medium and heavy duty vehicles.
The A2Z Coalition builds off the momentous foundation of the “Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration” (ZEV Declaration) generated at COP26 and hosted by the UK COP Presidency in collaboration with the High Level UN Climate Champions and the Climate Group. Originally launched at COP26, at COP27 it brings together over 200 signatories from national and sub-national governments, vehicle manufacturers, NGOs, businesses, fleet owners, and others all committed to all new car and van sales being zero emission by 2035 in leading markets, and by 2040 globally.
Since COP26 there has been a global growth of 95% across the electric vehicles market, yet climate experts say we must accelerate the transition and the share of sales of electric vehicles will need to accelerate 5 times faster for passenger vehicles, 10 times faster for electric buses, and even more rapidly for freight. BloombergNEF’s ZEV Factbook, published today, sounds a note of caution as progress on new commitments to zero-emission vehicles from both automakers and governments has slowed over the last year. National ZEV targets and internal combustion engine (ICE) phase-out targets now cover nearly 41% of the global passenger vehicle market by 2035, similar to a year ago. Automakers with 2035 ICE phase-out targets account for 23% of the market, up slightly from 19% a year ago.
“Accelerating the transition to a sustainable and clean transport sector should be a top priority for governments and businesses. We’re glad to launch the A2Z Coalition as a platform that builds on the positive momentum achieved by the ZEV Declaration. We call on more non-state actors to come forward next year to transition to zero-emission vehicles and reap the benefits of cleaner air, jobs, economic growth, and keeping our Paris Agreement goals within reach”.
Nigel Topping
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the UK, COP26
“Road transportation shows an encouraging trend toward e-mobility, but must urgently and drastically pick up pace to meet our global climate goals. The A2Z Coalition is a powerful new way to generate the momentum and the implementation support needed to realize the shift to zero-emission transportation” said Rachel Muncrief, Deputy Director of the International Council on Clean Transportation.
“Zero-emission transportation is the future” said Dr. Monica Araya, an internationale-mobility expert and part of the A2Z core team, “to meet the Paris agreement with a just transition, it is imperative to increase ambition from major emitters while mobilizing support for emerging markets. At Drive Electric, we celebrate and support this coalition of developed and developing countries, governments and manufacturers, cities and other non-state actors that aim to go faster than the rest.”
“We need all stakeholders to work together to achieve the ZEV transition at pace and scale” added Climate Group CEO, Helen Clarkson. “The global ZEV Declaration demonstrates the growing consensus that we need to phase out ICE vehicles by 2035 in leading countries and no later than 2040 globally. We’re looking forward to working with our partners in the A2Z coalition to keep this community of leaders growing and building the connections that will allow us to achieve this goal together.
About the A2Z Coalition:
The A2Z Coalition is a partnership of the UK Government’s COP26 Presidency, The High-Level UN Climate Champions, the International Council on Clean Transportation, Climate Group, and the Drive Electric Campaign working towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission no later than 2035 in leading markets and 2040 globally.
The A2Z Coalition builds off the momentous foundation of the “Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration” (ZEV Declaration) generated at COP26 and hosted by the UK COP Presidency in collaboration with the Climate Change High-Level Champions and the Climate Group.
