Brussels to ban new diesel cars by 2030, petrol cars by 2035

The Brussels regional government announced that it will ban sales of new diesel cars by 2030 and petrol cars by 2035  to meet the European Union’s carbon neutrality goal by 2050.

The ban will also apply to vehicles running on compressed-natural gas, liquefied natural gas and hybrids from 2035.

The plan, called “The Low Emission Mobility Brussels,” could help prevent an estimated 100 to 110 premature deaths per year linked to air pollution and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 65% to 75% by 2030.

“With this new step in the organisation 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, said.

Diesel scooters will also be banned from 2025, while petrol scooters will be banned from 2028. Motorcycles will be authorised until 2035.

Road transport is responsible for 30% of total carbon dioxide emissions in the Brussels region, and these have remained at a constant level since 1990, according to the Brussels environment agency.

The Brussels government aims to install 22,000 electric chargers in the region. It also plans to invest almost EUR1 billion (USD1.2 billion) in public transport in 2021.

In March, nine European countries called on the European Commission to set a date to ban the sales of new petrol and diesel cars across the European Union (EU) to align the transport sector with the EU’s climate goals.

The European Commission will propose tougher CO2 standards for new cars in Europe as part of a package of policies on July 14. Its goal is to reduce net EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, from 1990 levels, to reach climate neutrality by 2050.