At COP26 today (10 November), the UK announced that new heavy goods vehicles sold from 2040 will need to have zero emissions.

Today is ‘Transport Day’ at the climate conference in Glasgow and the UK is one of 15 countries to have signed a memorandum of understanding for zero emission medium and heavy duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs).

Tesco delivered 17 electric vans to its Glasgow stores to mark the occasion, reports the Glasgow Times.

Cars and vans

A declaration was also announced on zero-emission cars and vans at COP26 today.

The landmark global agreement brings together governments, states, regions, cities, vehicle manufacturers, investors and civil society to commit to working towards 100% zero-emission car and van sales by 2035 in leading markets, and no later than 2040 globally.

However, the BBC reports that the US, China and Germany haven’t signed up to the deal.

Shipping lanes go green

According to the BBC, plans for “green shipping corridors” to help a shift towards zero-emissions vessels are also due to be unveiled.

A coalition of 19 countries including Britain and the US have agreed to create zero emissions shipping trade routes between ports to speed up the decarbonisation of the global maritime industry.

Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade, accounts for nearly 3% of the world’s CO2 emissions.

Shoring up

To coincide with announcements on shipping, the British Ports Authority released findings from a survey today that 55% of MPs backed government funding for ‘shore power’.

This is the provision of electrical power to ships in ports, to prevent them running their generators and creating local emissions.

Fly guilt-free

On aviation, there have also been pledges from 14 states, representing more than 40% of global aviation emissions, promising to work towards decarbonisation, reports the Telegraph.

However, British transport secretary Shapps said Britons need not feel guilty about flying and that it was not the “ultimate evil”.

Attendees at COP26, including prime minister Boris Johnson, have faced criticism for using planes for short journeys to and from the conference.

Johnson, however, seems to have taken the criticism on board as he arrived in Glasgow by train this afternoon.

Draft Glasgow agreement

Overnight, the Guardian also reported the draft of the outcome of this year’s COP26 negotiations – a paper urging countries to strengthen their 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets by the end of next year.

The text refers to the Paris temperature goal, which could limit temperature rises to 2C, rather than the more ambitious goal of 1.5C.