Car manufacturers and suppliers feel pressured to accelerate away from internal combustion engine vehicles and reduce their carbon footprint|European Roads|CC BY-NC 2.0

Europe took its first step to combat climate change as the European Union (EU) lawmakers agreed Thursday to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles from 2035.

To speed up and move towards zero-emission mobility, the terms of the agreement by the EU require new cars to cut CO2 emissions by 55% and new vans by 50% by 2030, versus the 2021 levels.

Although car manufacturers and suppliers are already trying to switch toward electric vehicles, they feel pressured to accelerate away from internal combustion engine vehicles and reduce their carbon footprint.

The member states and the European Parliament are yet to formally adopt the legislation.