What did we do at COP27?

At the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), we became a founding member of the Accelerating to Zero Coalition. What does it mean and what else has happened?

COP27 took place in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh, attended by over 40,000 representatives from national governments, NGOs, businesses, community groups, think tanks and faith groups.

Just like last year’s COP26, we were there to highlight the work we are doing to address emissions across our value chain and encourage others within our industry to electrify at a pace in line with the Paris Agreement. We also called on governments to do more to rise to the climate challenge and ensure that the 1.5 degree target remains possible.

The big news for us this year is that we’ve joined the Accelerating to Zero Coalition as a founding member. Building on last year’s Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Vehicles which Volvo signed at COP26, the Accelerating to Zero Coalition addresses the need for an international platform for global zero tailpipe emission vehicle (ZEV) leadership. Through close collaboration, it aims to help create the right conditions to boost zero tailpipe emission cars and vans, including through the electrification of corporate fleets and the development of a comprehensive charging infrastructure.

It consists of a broad group of stakeholders committed to facilitating and increasing the pace of the transition to zero emission mobility. Members include not only manufacturers, but also major fleet buyers, investors, OEM suppliers, as well as countries, cities and regions. All are committed to helping ensure that 100 per cent of global new car and van sales are tailpipe emission free by 2040, and no later than 2035 in leading markets (Europe, China, Japan and the US). These are science-based targets for our industry aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

We’ve joined the Accelerating to Zero Coalition as a founding member. Building on last year’s Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Vehicles which Volvo signed at COP26, the Accelerating to Zero Coalition addresses the need for an international platform for global zero tailpipe emission vehicle (ZEV) leadership.

Our CEO Jim Rowan welcomed the Coalition’s formation and collaborative approach in a recorded message during the launch event at COP. You can see the video above.

Separately, we joined over 200 other businesses and civil society organisations in signing a call, organised by the We Mean Business Coalition, on national governments to increase their climate ambition and delivery.

In addition, during a panel discussion we hosted in conjunction with Business Sweden, our head of sustainability Anders Kärrberg also endorsed the Call on Carbon initiative. Together with Inter IKEA, H&M Group, SSAB and others, the initiative urges governments to introduce an effective policy framework for carbon pricing.

“We recognise the role carbon pricing has in helping tackle climate change,” said Anders Kärrberg. “When announcing our internal carbon price of 1,000 SEK for every tonne of carbon emissions at COP26, we became the first carmaker to implement a global carbon pricing mechanism, covering its complete value chain emissions.

“By endorsing the Call on Carbon, we are once again demonstrating our willingness to contribute to lead the entire automotive industry towards a more sustainable future.”