Truckies back net zero by 2040 push

Anthony Albanese is facing calls to sign a global pledge for all sales of new trucks and buses to be zero emission by 2040.

Linxfox has rolled out a new electric truck for supermarket giant Coles.

Anthony Albanese is facing calls to sign a global pledge for all sales of new trucks and buses to be zero emission by 2040, amid warnings from the Australian Trucking Association that companies should not be “held hostage” to the volatile price of diesel.

The US on Friday signed up to a global memorandum of understanding at the COP27 summit in Egypt to have all new medium and heavy-duty vehicles zero emission by 2040, with an interim goal of at least 30 per cent of new sales by 2030.

The push comes after Australia recently signed up to US President Joe Biden’s global pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent over the decade, amid growing pressure from the Biden administration and South Pacific nations for Australia to embrace stronger climate change action.

ATA’s infrastructure and sustainability spokesman Sam Marks said Australia was at risk of falling behind other com­parable markets and urged Labor to act after years of “political inaction”. The peak body has called on the federal government to show leadership to help the sector during the transition.

“With the stroke of a pen, the US has shown that nations with great geographical distances similar to our own can be leaders in the transition to zero-­emission trucks,” Mr Marks said.

“The Biden administration has shown climate and economic leadership by joining Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and others in signing the global memorandum of understanding on zero emission trucks and buses.

“The decision by the US means Australia simply has to follow suit and sign the MOU.”

Amid soaring petrol prices, Mr Marks said signing the pledge would help trucking companies reduce running costs.

The ATA has called on the federal government to invest in electric truck recharging stations, implement a purchase price incentive and reform vehicle design rules to encourage a transition.