Scotland one of the first in world to phase out diesel cars

Ministers have set a 2032 target to “phase out the need” for new versions of such cars, even though they do not have the power to ban them.

Analysis by environmental campaigners WWF Scotland said that would put Scotland behind just four other countries – Norway, Austria, India and Ireland.

Norway has the most ambitious timescale for the switch, in 2025, with the other three countries planning to follow suit by 2030. The UK government’s target date is 2040.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf underlined the Scottish Government’s commitment at the SNP conference yesterday: “I want to see Scotland turn the challenge of climate change into an opportunity.

“That’s why I’m determined to drive forward the use of low emission vehicles – like electric cars - to increase active travel [walking and cycling] and why I’ll back our public transport with investment for new, clean, green buses.”

WWF Scotland head of policy Gina Hanrahan said:

“With transport now the single biggest contributor to climate change in Scotland and implicated in thousands of premature deaths from air pollution every year, it’s great to see the Scottish Government at the forefront of the transition to clean transport.

“Technological developments are already driving costs down and the newest models of electric vehicles can drive hundreds of miles on a single charge.

“Getting fossil fuel vehicles off our streets will help create new industries, cut climate change emissions and clean up Scotland’s polluted air.”