Paris to ban petrol cars by 2030

Paris has previously announced plans to ban diesel cars by 2024 but a committee this week decided to take the city's climate plan to a new level, Christophe Najdovski, the deputy mayor of Paris responsible for transport policy told France Info.

The decision was made because "time is running out", Mr Najdovski said. "This is about planning for the long term with a strategy that will reduce greenhouse gases."

There have been enormous advances in electric vehicles recently and transport is being revolutionised by technology, he said.

The decision is made easier for Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo by the fact that over 60% of Parisians do not own a car.

Paris has committed under the COP 21 climate change plan to be carbon-neutral and to use 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot revealed plans last month to cut the number of polluting vehicles on French roads. This followed an announcement in July that France aims to end the sale of petrol or diesel cars from 2040.