Brussels, capital city of Belgium, could be the next global city to ban internal combustion vehicles. The regional government said on Friday that the city would ban diesel cars by 2030 and gasoline cars by 2035 to try and meet the EU's carbon neutrality plan by 2050. Reuters reports that it will also ban compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas and hybrids by 2035.
"With this new step in the organization of the Brussels low-emission zone, we confirm the region's desire to opt for a climate transition that is socially just," Rudi Vervoort, the president of the Brussels region, told a press conference on Friday.
Its low-emission zone, established in 2018, has contributed to reducing emissions of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter from transport by 11 percent in the Brussels region, the city said in a statement.
The plan is called "The Low Emission Mobility Brussels" and authors say it could help prevent at least 100 premature deaths a year linked to air pollution. It would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65%-75%. In March nine European countries wanted to set a date for the ban of sales of new ICE cars to get the continent closer to its climate goals.
The country is following the UK, which just moved up its plans to ban combustion cars from 2035 to 2030. Back in December Japan said it would follow along, but landed on the year 2035. CEO Akio Toyoda (purveyor of super-efficient hybrids like the Toyota Prius) blasted the Japanese government for not understanding how the auto industry really works, pointing out the charging infrastructure is not in place while the island nation continues to burn fossil fuels to power EV charging stations.
Diesel scooters won't get out unscathed, as they will also be banned from 2025 while gas-powered versions are out in 2028. Motorcycles can stay until 2035.
As for the chargers, the Brussels government said it wants to install 22,000 electric chargers in the region, and would invest more than $1 billion on public transport this year. According to the Brussels environment agency, road transport is responsible for 30% of the total carbon dioxide emissions in the area.
The European Commission will put even tougher standards on cars next month, to hit the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 55% by 2030 (from 1990 levels) on its way to neutrality by the middle of the century.