As awareness of global warming spreads and its consequences are seen across the world, Paris announced that it will end sales of petrol and diesel by 2040. This announcement was made by new Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot as France remains committed to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord.

Hulot said that while reaching the goal was tough, French carmakers like Peugeot-Citroen and Renault were well equipped to make the switch to electric cars.

In Europe, France is the biggest manufacturer of electric cars. Sales of Renault Zoe exceeded all other models in 2016. On Wednesday, Volvo planned to end the production of petrol-only cars from 2019 and all new models will be either electric or hybrids. 

Hulot, a veteran environmental campaigner, cited Volvo as an example in making his surprise announcement, part of his plan to make France "carbon neutral" by 2050. 

Many countries in the world have expressed their will to reduce to a large extent, the amount of polluting petrol and diesel cars on their roads but only a  few have made firm commitments. 

 India has said that by 2030, all its cars will be electrically powered.

In Europe, Norway strives to end sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025. Germany aims to put one million electric cars on the road by 2020. 

Hulot said that making France free of conventional cars was a matter of public health. Many cities in France like Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and other French cities have a chronic smog problem.