Car companies vow to phase out fossil-fuel vehicles by 2040

GLASGOW, November 10

A group of countries, companies and cities committed on Wednesday to phasing out fossil-fuel vehicles by 2040, as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions and curb global warming.

But the world’s top two carmakers, Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG, as well as major car markets China, the United States and Germany, did not sign up, highlighting the challenges in shifting to zero emissions.

The Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans, unveiled at COP26, sees the groups pledge to “rapidly” accelerate the transition to low-carbon emission vehicles. Headline signatories included Ford and General Motors, the world’s second-most populous country India and major corporate purchasers of vehicles, including Leaseplan, which rents 1.7 million cars in 30 nations. — Reuters

US joins india-led solar alliance

New Delhi: US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry announced at the COP26 on Wednesday that US had joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member country. PM Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande had launched the ISA on November 30, 2015, at the 21st session of COP21 in Paris. TNS