Why the UK is Banning New Diesel and Petrol Vehicles from 2040
The UK government will join Paris in banning new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2040 in a bid to tackle dangerous levels of air pollution and encourage people to buy electric cars.
The UK “can’t carry on” with petrol and diesel vehicles due to the risk they pose to people and the planet, said Environment Secretary Michael Gove. “There is no alternative to embracing new technology,” he added.
The government also unveiled a £255m fund to help councils tackle pollution, including the potential for charging zones for the dirtiest vehicles.
The announcement did not include a “scrappage scheme”, under which drivers of diesel cars would get compensation for trading in their vehicles. However, local authorities are expected to be warned against “unfairly penalising” diesel drivers by imposing pollution taxes and other restrictions.
“What we’re saying to local authorities is come up with an imaginative solution to these proposals,” Gove told the Today programme.
Efforts to reduce dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide could include “altering buses and other transport to make them cleaner, changing road layouts, altering features such as speed humps, and re-programming traffic lights to make vehicle-flow smoother,” reports the BBC.
More wind farms or alternative sources of energy will be needed to meet increased demand driven by electric vehicles.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.