France announced Thursday that it plans to end the sale of gas and diesel cars by 2040 to help fulfill its obligations under the Paris climate agreement.
French Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot announced the plan to end “the sale of petrol and diesel by 2040” and described it as a “veritable revolution,” according to the Agence France-Presse.
Hulot said the goal would be “tough” but praised Volvo, which recently announced its plans to offer only electric or hybrid vehicles, and said French automakers Peugeot-Citroen and Renault were also capable of making the switch.
Electric vehicles make up around 1 percent of total auto sales in both France and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal about his support for the Paris Agreement, even inviting U.S. citizens to come and work toward environmental solutions in France following President Trump’s announcement rejecting the agreement for the United States.
France’s announcement came during Trump’s second foreign trip as president, where he will meet with world leaders at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.
