· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Carbon emissions from UK vans have risen by 63% since 1990 due to a preference for diesel over electric, driven by high costs, limited model choices, and inadequate charging infrastructure
🔭 The context: Although electric and hybrid cars are becoming more popular, van drivers face significant barriers in switching from diesel
• Campaigners urge the next government to provide financial incentives and enhance charging infrastructure to promote zero-emission vans
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The continued reliance on diesel vans counters efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, affecting air quality and hindering progress toward climate goals
• The rise in emissions from vans is concerning despite reductions in NOx emissions from cars and HGVs
⏭️ What's next: The UK government's zero emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate requires that by the end of 2024, 10% of new van sales must be electric, increasing to 100% by 2035
• Improved incentives and infrastructure are crucial to meeting these targets and facilitating the transition to electric vans.
💬 One quote: "Despite the push for more electric vans on our roads, we are still witnessing a surge in greenhouse gas emissions from vans as a result of sustained sales of diesel vans, countering trends we are seeing in the car market." - Ralph Palmer, Transport and Environment
📈 One stat: Carbon emissions from light vans have increased by 63% since 1990, despite a 19% reduction in emissions from cars over the same period
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