Citizens of New Zealand that will trade their combustion engine vehicles will receive financial incentives.
On May 16, the government of New Zealand announced its first Emissions Reduction Plan. The plan will cost nearly $NZ3 billion ($1.88 billion) and will ensure that New Zealand meets its climate targets.
“This is a landmark day in our transition to a low emissions future,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “The Emissions Reduction Plan delivers the greatest opportunity we’ve had in decades to address climate change but also move to a high wage, low emissions economy that provides greater economic security by creating jobs, upgrading the country to run on more clean energy, supporting nature, and improving infrastructure.”
IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT OPTIONS
The plan highlighted addressing climate change. The program is to improve access to affordable and sustainable transport options. It will continue the ‘Clean Vehicle Discount,’ given to citizens who purchase low and zero-emission vehicles.
If more New Zealanders switch to EVs, this will increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (light vehicles) by 30% by 2035.
A ‘scrap-and-replace’ scheme will also be implemented. The government will help low-income households afford electric vehicles by replacing their combustion vehicles.
Two thousand five hundred homes will test the system before the government’s expansion in two years. The government will allocate nearly $NZ569 million ($516 million) to the trial program.
The government of New Zealand will also improve its charging infrastructures to ensure that New Zealanders can charge whenever they need to.
The government will also make public transport convenient and affordable and provide people with frequent buses and trains. Additionally, the government also aims for Zero-emission buses to enter the fleet in 2025 and make the entire public fleet de-carbonized by 2035.
The Emissions Reduction Plan will also focus on different sectors of businesses and agriculture and support wildlife and forests.
