Two thirds of people living in cities support the proposed banning of sales of new combustion-engined cars after 2030. That's according to a new YouGov online poll, carried out across 15 European cities.
10,500 people polled across 15 cities
Out of 10,500 people polled across 15 of some of Europe's largest cities in eight countries - Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK - only 29 per cent opposed such a ban. Ireland and the UK have already announced such bans.
Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and emobility at environmental think-tank Transport & Environment (T&E), said: "From Barcelona to Kraków, there is broad support for ending sales of fossil-fuel cars in the EU. People in cities are the most exposed to toxic levels of air pollution, and they don't want internal combustion engines to be sold for any longer than is necessary."
Consistent majority
According to T&E, in all of the 15 cities, there is a consistent majority (51 per cent to 77 per cent) in support of emission-free cars sales after 2030. Support is higher among city dwellers who have suffered from Covid-19. Of those who were infected or had a person close to them infected, 66 per cent back the measure - in comparison to 56 per cent of those who don't know anyone infected or don't recall. Several studies have pointed to possible links between air pollution, of which road transport is the primary cause, and higher mortality related to Covid.
Listen to the people
Julia Poliscanova concluded: "Politicians should listen to the people, who say they are ready for the full transition to zero-emission vehicles as soon as 2030. This summer the European Commission should propose an EU-wide end date for selling cars with internal combustion engines."
That is an option that the EU Commission is currently exploring. Ten European governments, including the UK, have already set diesel-petrol cut-off dates (usually with a few years' grace period for hybrids and plug-in hybrids) and the formulation of the new Euro7 emissions regulations could, effectively, put a ban in place if the restrictions on CO2 emissions are sufficiently strict.