France has revealed plans to make all the country's vehicles carbon-neutral, with the announcement that it will ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040.
The proposed ban on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles was announced by the country's new environment minister, Nicolas Hulot, at a press conference on Thursday. It will mean only electric cars or those using alternative fuels will be sold in the country from 2040.
Hulot, who is a long-time environmental campaigner and was brought on board by newly elected president Emmanuel Macron, said the move would help France achieve its plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
His announcement follows the news that Volvo will only make electric and hybrid vehicles as of 2019, and comes as G20 members ? including US president Donald Trump, a climate-change sceptic ? meet in Germany for the annual summit.
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The summit is expected to see world leaders discuss climate change as a priority, after President Trump decided to to withdraw the US from the Paris climate change agreement in June.
Macron has been a vocal critic of this decision, and Hulot made a point of this in his speech, stating "France has decided to become carbon-neutral by 2050 following the US decision."
The former journalist also said that lower-income households will receive financial help when replacing their...