Sierra Club Statement on Zero-Emission Vehicle Pledge at COP26

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - Today, more than 100 governments, fleet owners and vehicle manufacturers pledged to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 2040 globally, and by 2035 in leading markets. The target aims to ensure that one out of every three car sales will be zero emission by 2040 globally (and by 2035 in leading markets).

However, despite leading US manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors signing the pledge - and three US states, Washington, California, and New York, joining as well - the U.S. federal government did not. Even though the US, China and Germany are absent from the deal, this pledge still covers 15 percent of the global car market, or 11.5 million light-duty vehicles. 

In the US, a coalition of organizations including the Sierra Club has been advocating for the Biden administration, through the EPA and NHTSA, to adopt the strongest possible vehicle standards to set the US on a path for 100 percent zero-emission vehicles sales by 2035 and protect our climate and public health.

Additionally, the Sierra Club and partners have been targeting Toyota, who is also notably absent from this pledge, for lagging in the global electric vehicle race. On Monday, five environmental organizations launched the Pollutamotor.com website and digital ads exposing Toyota’s lacking track record on electric vehicles.

“This pledge shows that a broad commitment to zero-emission vehicles is possible and is aligned with other major pledges to advance clean vehicles made this year, including President Biden’s own target to reach 50 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030,” said Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz. 

“We in the United States need to do better. It’s not enough for some US companies and states to sign onto this pledge. If we’re going to ensure clean air, meet our climate commitments, and lead on clean vehicle manufacturing, the time to act is now,” said Acting Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign Katherine García. “A swift transition to clean transportation would make a world of difference in addressing climate change and protecting public health. Pledge or not, to truly lead on this right now, the US must adopt the strongest possible federal clean car standards and pass the Build Back Better Act to secure the investments needed to advance our imperative clean transportation transition."