FX.co ★ Clean air initiative: seven countries against cars

As you know, September 22 is the world day without a car. On this day, motorists of many countries try to abandon the use of fuel vehicles that pollute the environment. In 2015, 192 countries signed the "Climate Agreement" and began to introduce measures to limit carbon emissions in the atmosphere. One of such measures was the promotion of electric vehicles, as well as the reduction of the number of fuel cars on the city streets. In our photo gallery, there are seven countries actively fighting air pollution.

Germany

Though not the first to have considered banning petrol and diesel cars, Germany was the first to implement a ban. Back in October 2016, the country's federal council proposed and passed a resolution that calls for a total ban on internal combustion engines by 2030. The decision is a significant one, not just because it's the first, but also because Germany has the fourth largest car manufacturing industry in the world. Germany's also home to some of the biggest car makers out there. As a result, veteran automobile manufacturers Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen have since firmed up on their hydrogen and electric car efforts.

Norway

In February 2017, Norway decided to follow and outdo the German example. Not only is this Scandinavian country banning fossil fuel-based cars, they've set a target that's five years earlier than Germany's. By 2025, Norway will only sell cars that are 100 percent electric, doing away with petrol-based vehicles. Their targets for implementing such an ambitious but not impossible plan, strengthened by a green tax system, is clear. In addition, the Norwegian authorities plan to replace 56 km of motor roads with bicycle paths.

Spain

India

India has instituted a policy, similar to Norway's, to allow only the sale of fully-electric cars by 2030. The effort is financed by the government. The idea is that by 2030, not a single petrol or diesel car should be sold in the country.

France

The home of the historic Paris Climate Agreement won't be left behind, of course. The Agreement aims to respond to the global climate change threat by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The country's set radical changes to the country's climate goals into motion. Part of this is a ban on all petrol and diesel vehicles effective on 2040. It's a step-by-step process, which includes having a fleet of 2.4 million rechargeable electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as a 3% of NGV heavy duty vehicles by 2023.

The UK

The British have introduced a ban on new diesel and petrol fuel cars by 2040, as part of a $4.06 billion initiative (£3 billion) that trickles down to local councils to improve the nation's air quality. Poor air quality is the biggest environmental risk to public health in the UK and this government is determined to take strong action in the shortest time possible, a spokesperson previously told the BBC.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands have expressed interest in curbing greenhouse emissions from cars. The Dutch have been considering a petrol and diesel ban since April 2016. A complete ban on the use of diesel and fuel vehicles will be introduced.