International Collaborations and Commitments on Zero-Emission Vehicles at COP26 and Beyond: A Q&A with British Climate Attaché Reem Yusuf

October 26, 2021

Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) are vehicles that do not produce exhaust emissions. Electric vehicles are one type of zero-emission vehicle, a group that also includes newer technologies like hydrogen-powered cars. The electric vehicle market is growing steadily, but to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, the transition to zero-emission vehicles needs to accelerate. International collaboration will be necessary to accomplish this goal.

EESI sat down with Reem Yusuf, an energy policy advisor and climate attaché at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to discuss international collaboration on ZEVs and what to expect at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) next week.

EESI: What is the ZEV Joint Declaration that will be unveiled at COP26? What does it set out to do?

Yusuf: When we look at emissions from different sectors, transportation is often at the top in most countries, including in the United States. We need to work together to reduce emissions from this sector in order to reach our climate goals.

The ZEV Joint Declaration is a new, non-binding agreement where the signatories declare that they will strive to transition to zero-emission vehicles in the next two decades. We have been working with governments around the world, and especially those with leading auto markets, like the United States and Europe , to introduce more ambitious policies.

We are calling on these countries to phase out their internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. We are also calling for developing countries to introduce a similar target, but by 2040. We are really keen to get national governments on board, but it can be difficult for some countries to do that, because of the political risk and the short time frame. Subnationals also have a significant role in the transition, and so, we are encouraging other stakeholders like states, cities, nonprofit organizations, large corporations, and investment banks to make similar commitments.

EESI: What collaborations are already underway to accelerate the transition to ZEVs?

Yusuf: We have a number of partnerships with the United States. We have been working closely with California for a couple of years on all things zero-emission vehicles, whether it is policy and regulations or innovation and manufacturing.

Last year, the United Kingdom launched the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council, led by COP26 President Alok Sharma. The ZEV Transition Council brings the key players around the world together to discuss ways to transition the transportation sector to zero emissions. We have a number of European countries on the council, as well as Mexico, Canada, Japan, and others. In November 2020, California formally joined the transition council to advise us on various aspects of zero-emission vehicle policies. Then, in April 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration also joined the council. Now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator, Michael Regan, is a part of our discussions. The new ZEV declaration will build on all the previous work that we have been doing with California and with the U.S. administration in general.

EESI: What key steps have been taken in the United States to advance the ZEV transition?

Yusuf: Transportation has a lot of potential to decarbonize, and California is a very good example of this. California has 34 ZEV-related vehicle manufacturers, and electric vehicles were the state’s largest export in 2020. President Biden's recent announcement that 50 percent of new cars will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030 is also very promising. It is great to see the “Big Three” auto manufacturers in the United States—General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis—agree to make fifty percent of their car sales electric by 2030. The United Kingdom is learning from what is happening in California and elsewhere in the US as we further build our own zero-emissions industry in the United Kingdom, especially around job creation and just transition.

EESI: What are the plans to highlight sustainable transportation at COP26?

Yusuf: The ZEV Joint Declaration will be the biggest ZEV announcement at COP26. On November 10, we will have a panel event focused on the declaration. There will be a lot of media coverage, and we will also be highlighting the signatories of the declaration on social media.

The British Embassy in the United States is also organizing a virtual event on COP26 Zero Emission Vehicle Innovation and Manufacturing on November 10 at 11:30am ET.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Author: Isabella Eclipse