Local leaders from across Europe, including mayors and other city representatives, have issued a joint letter calling on the European Union to maintain its planned 2035 phase-out of new cars and vans that produce CO₂ emissions.
As the letter states, any weakening of the planned targets would ‘stall climate progress, undermine existing clean-industry investments, and jeopardise local efforts to deliver zero-emission mobility’.
The joint letter is supported by C40, Eurocities, ICLEI Europe, and POLIS networks, which work closely with cities and urban areas on climate action and other related policy areas.
A ‘critical priority’
As ICLEI Europe noted, currently, some 94% of urban residents are exposed to harmful air pollution, meaning that clean transport should be a ‘critical priority’ for European cities.
It added that cities across the continent are already proving that the phase-out of traditional, fossil fuel-emitting vehicles is ‘not only feasible but also delivers real results, manifesting in cleaner air, healthier lives, creating quality jobs, and stronger local economies’.
‘Cleaner mobility’
One of the signatories to the letter, Martin Horn, ICLEI Europe president and Mayor of Freiburg, Germany, highlighted the importance of Europe staying the course on the emissions vehicle phase-out.
“Across Europe, cities are showing that cleaner mobility is not only possible – it’s already improving lives,” he said. “Keeping the 2035 CO₂ targets gives our communities the certainty they need to invest, innovate, and grow stronger. This is our chance to lead by example, protect the health of our residents, and build a thriving zero-emission future that leaves no one behind.”
The signatories also draw a connection between the 2035 target and Europe’s position in global climate diplomacy, arguing that maintaining the deadline will give businesses and investors the clear long-term policy signals they need to innovate and remain competitive.
As the letter puts it, ‘At a time when our communities continue to suffer from the impacts of climate change and air pollution, we must not roll back our ambitions.’
The letter was addressed to Dr Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition; Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy; Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth; and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. Read more here and here.
