eco and short term car insurance news

Let’s spread the word about World Car Free Day 2023

19/09/23

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recently issued fresh guidance that calls for governments to take action to protect children in the face of the worsening climate crisis.

The “General Comment No. 26” signals the first time the Committee has affirmed children’s right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

It provides a comprehensive interpretation of State obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – which has been ratified by 196 countries.

The 1989 treaty outlines children’s rights, including to life, health, clean drinking water, and survival and development.

How governments will interpret and act on the guidance remains to be seen, however any steps to protect the health of future generations must be a good thing.

31/08/23

Whatever your views on it, and whether or not you’re eligible for financial assistance with scrappage, the expansion of the London ULEZ came into force today – the 29th August 2023.

With clear air in mind for London, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been expanded to include all London boroughs. With talk of grace periods for some, that first drive back into London after a much deserved summer break could land you with a nasty fine after some councils refused permission for ULEZ signs on approach roads to the zone.

Drivers of the most-polluting vehicles will have to pay £12.50 a day to drive anywhere in Greater London.

29/08/23

As part of the extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to include all of London, it has been announced that eligibility for the car and motorcycle scrappage scheme has been extended to more people.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said all Londoners would be able to access up to £2,000 to replace non-compliant cars. People who were previously ineligible will be able to apply from today (21st August  2023). Until now, the scrappage scheme had been linked to means-tested benefits, meaning many people were losing out.

The London mayor’s clean-air policy is to expand to cover all of London from the 29th August, after the High Court ruled it lawful.

Drivers of the most-polluting vehicles will have to pay £12.50 a day to drive anywhere in Greater London.

20/08/23

The oceans have reached their highest recorded temperature – a consequence of climate change, signaling alarming consequences for the planet and climate.

This week, the EU’s Copernicus climate change service reported that the global daily average sea surface temperature exceeded a 2016 record, attaining 20.96C (69.73F) – a significant deviation from the typical average for this period.

Oceans play a critical role in regulating climate, absorbing heat, generating half of Earth’s oxygen, and determining weather patterns. As ocean temperatures rise, their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide diminishes, resulting in more CO2 remaining in the atmosphere. This increased warmth can accelerate glacier melting, subsequently elevating sea levels. Elevated oceanic temperatures adversely affect marine species like fish and whales, compelling them to migrate towards cooler waters and disrupting the food chain. Consequently, fish stocks might decline. Additionally, some predators, such as sharks, can exhibit heightened aggression in warmer waters.

04/08/23

Having faced opposition from certain parts of the political spectrum, the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across London can finally go ahead after it was ruled lawful by the High Court.

When it comes in to effect on the 29th August 2023 older, more polluting vehicles will be charged £12.50 per day.

Sadiq Khan (Major of London) told the BBC: “This landmark decision is good news as it means we can proceed with cleaning up the air in outer London.”

30/07/23

It’s no surprise that the Dutch like cycling – a lot. Yes, it helps that the country lacks hills, but the government has introduced measures to make cycling safe and convenient for all ages. So, if everyone adopted the same approach globally, and cycled as much as the folk in the Netherlands, global CO2 emissions could drop by a whisker under 700 million tonnes per year.

Research at the University of Southern Denmark (another country famed for pedal powered transport) urges people to ditch the car, and pedal like they do in the Netherlands.

11/07/23

The UK government has launched a new package of measures to assist the decarbonisation of transport in the UK. As part of these new measures, a £381m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund has been announced, to support the expansion of charge points for electric vehicles, particularly in areas without off-street parking. The government aims to install tens of thousands of new chargers nationwide to encourage more people to switch to EVs.

30/03/23

The UK government has dedicated £1.8bn to improve energy efficiency in public buildings and homes, including insulation and low-carbon tech like heat pumps and solar panels. This initiative aims to create 80,000 green jobs and reduce carbon emissions. It is part of the government’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and will be implemented through the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme. Read more: UK government dedicates £1.8bn to boost energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

22/03/23

Self-driving cars offer us tantalising glimpses where that road-trip from Guildford to Newcastle is not a 9 hour epic where you listen to a LOT of podcasts, but a delicious opportunity to binge the latest box set, or catch up on some sleep. We’re not there yet (so please don’t do any sleeping, or anything that takes your attention off the road). So, what do developments in autonomous driving mean for the future, and insurance? Let’s take a look at the future of insurance with self-driving cars.

In another step towards zero emission motoring, the European Parliament formally approved a law to ban the sale of new gas and diesel cars, starting in 2035. Applying to new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, as part of the “Fit for 55” package, it’s a further step to reduce CO2 emissions from motoring.

15/02/2023

Scientists have outlined a new way of extracting CO2 from the air, and storing it in the sea. Publishing their findings, the authors of the report say that approach captures CO2 from the atmosphere up to three times more efficiently than current methods. The gas – a contributor to climate change –  is transformed into bicarbonate of soda before being stored in seawater.

While CO2 reduction should remain the goal, carbon capture methods provide one partial solution to the problem that we face. For those with a technical mind or curiosity about the research, the original article may be found on science.org.

09/03/2023

Recent UK government funding has helped introduce 117 zero emission buses that will be used in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampshire. This investment is part of the government’s plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and will promote the growth of the low-carbon transportation sector. 

02/03/23

News today showed further cost of living pressures on cash-strapped consumers, with the cost of a new annual car insurance policy rising 11% to £500. Our tip? Consider taking out some week car insurance from Zixty while you shop around – using our carefully curated 15 tips for saving money on car insurance.

03/02/2023

We’re excited to say that our Android app is now available in the Google Play Store. Offering all of the speed, simplicity, and eco conscience options of our iOS app, this is now available to Android and iOS users.

25/01/2023

A newly published report “The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal” has highlighted the need for increased investment in technology to remove carbon, in order to limit or restrict changes in global temperatures.

23/01/2023

The government has just launched a brand new £7 million tech fund aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. The new Freight Innovation Fund (FIF) will be awarded to 36 SMEs to create and test solutions to make freight more efficient and green. Solutions to problems like breaking up containers for easier journeys and improving links between rail, maritime and road transport will all be explored with the overall goal of efficiency and emissions reductions. 

09/01/2023

Concrete4Change (C4C) has been named Startups’ “ultimate green champion” in 2023 after it won the publication’s sustainability reward. The startup is developing a technology that’ll permanently sequester CO2 inside concrete.  The business is hoping to store 2 billion tonnes of CO2 in concrete and has garnered interest from several major construction companies as a result.

09/01/2023

The UK government has put forth proposals to reform the Capacity Market in order to keep pace with the transition to cleaner energy sources and technologies. The Capacity Market is the scheme that sits at the heart of the government’s strategy for ensuring the security of electricity supply in the UK. The proposal includes incentivising greener technologies to compete in auctions and creating new timelines and requirements for oil and gas generators to reduce emissions from 2034 through implementing carbon capture and hydrogen power generation methods.

09/01/2023

Battery electric vehicles secured their largest-ever market share amounting to 32.9% of new car registrations in December 2022. BEVs came second only to petrol cars last year, surpassing diesel engines and accounting for more than 16% of all new car registrations in 2022. Plug-in vehicles as a whole accounted for 22.9% of all new car registrations in 2022, a record-breaking statistic pointing to an increase in demand for EVs. Read the full story here.

05/01/2023

The government is investing £32.9 million to help local councils design, develop, and consult on travel schemes such as walking and cycling routes that could improve local road networks. The funding will help with network planning, public engagement, training for council staff, and the creation of hundreds of new green jobs across England. It is hoped the move will make “active travel” more attractive, while cutting costs, improving health, and protecting the environment.

02/01/2023

Edie, the leading sustainability media brand, has outlined key sustainability challenges the UK government needs to address this year, including the need for closing the green skills gap. Edie also stressed the need to navigate new Brexit legislation carefully – particularly where it pertains to changing existing EU laws that protect the environment. Supporting farmers with transitioning to net-zero, as well as unlocking onshore wind development were other challenges that were mentioned.

02/01/2023

The government published legally binding targets to protect the environment, clean up the air and rivers, and boost nature on Friday 16th December 2022. This was following extensive consultation as part of the government’s commitment to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.

16/12/2022

As part of its COP27 commitments, the UK government has introduced a new climate support package. It has also pledged to triple its funding to nations adapting to the impacts of climate change from £500mn in 2019 to £1.5bn in 2025.

07/11/2022

The FCA could clamp down on investment products engaging in greenwashing if new proposals are passed in 2023. Green investment products will need to qualify for new sustainable investment labels based on specific criteria. In a bid to keep consumers accurately informed about their choices,  the FCA could introduce restrictions on labels such as “ESG”, “green”, and “sustainable” on products that do not qualify.

25/10/2022

While not strictly “news” the South-West 660 is new, and rapidly growing in popularity. Offering various options for completing the stunning journey around Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall coastline, it includes routes for public transport, bicycles, and EVs. The South West 660 looks to set itself apart from the more established and more familiar North Coast 500 – seeking to side-step some of the challenges experienced in the far North.