Polestar have labelled the industry’s targets set at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) last year as a “Historical document of silence”
When an industry’s response to an issue with the magnitude of climate change is underwhelming, the criticism should not be sugar-coated, but whether it one person or an entity, it takes great bravery to stand up to the world and demand better. Polestar are making that stand.
On the back of new data that suggests one third of consumers support a ban of new petrol- and diesel cars by 2030 or earlier, Polestar say global sentiment toward new mobility is outpacing global policy. And they want the vehicle industry to be held accountable.
In 2021, the Swedish premium electric performance car brand, went to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) with the intention of etching car makers objectives to carbon neutrality into stone. Quite literally.
But so few car makers presented plans Polestar considered to be even remotely aggressive enough, they labelled what should have been a “Historical document of promises” a “historical document of silence.”
The global study Polestar referenced was by GlobeScan Incorporated. Globescan subscribes to the standards of the World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals (ESOMAR) and therefore abides by minimum disclosure standards for studies that are released to the public or the media. The study involved 18,000 participants in 19 Polestar markets across North America, Asia Pacific and Europe and it reveals that 34 percent of consumers are in favour of a ban of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2030. And that number rises to 47 percent in a 2035 scenario.
New Zealand features on the below list at Number 17, notably ranking higher than even Norway. A leading market in EV penetration and adoption.
Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath is equally as clear with his words, arguing a global ban on ICE vehicles must come sooner.
“With just 1.5 percent of the vehicles on the road being electric today, it is clear we are living in an EV bubble, not an EV boom. This decade is the most critical we have ever faced when it comes to not overshooting the Paris agreement. We need governments to lead the charge with robust policies, both on infrastructure and addressing electricity prices so that drivers can confidently go electric, but more importantly, car makers must act now and not wait for policy changes.”
“As climate leaders meet this week in New York City, and with COP27 around the corner, it is clear there is climate meeting fatigue. But companies and consumers can become the antidote to that. While we don’t write the policies, we have the power to act now and drive real change. We have a responsibility, and it is up to us to send a signal and show we’re ready.” Ingenlath said.
Polestar themselves are prepared to make aggressive steps forward in their own climate change targets. The company wishes to create a truly climate neutral car by 2030. Halve their emissions by 2030. And be a climate neutral company by 2040.
With COP27 now approaching, time will tell if the industry can present solutions worthy of being set in stone.