Zeal for (an expansion of) an environmental zone or low-emission zone
You tackle the following challenges:
That's how you do it
With an environmental zone you can reduce emissions and thus improve local air quality. In densely populated urban areas, the reduced exposure may lead to health benefits. As a government, you can make such a zone stricter, expand or improve it in order to reduce specific pollution (for example with particulate matter or NO 2 ).
There are many examples of successful environmental zones to learn from. As a result, the former disadvantages of establishing an environmental zone (such as a lengthy import route, high costs and practical enforcement) currently play less of a role. You can easily combine an environmental zone with other measures that further enhance the impact of the environmental zone.
A number of high-quality audit studies on the effectiveness of environmental zones have concluded that environmental zones are effective in limiting traffic-related air pollution.
- Particulate matter (PM): all studies show a decrease in concentrations: for PM10 concentrations up to 6%, PM2.5 concentrations drop to even 30%.
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ): depending on the local situation, the NO 2 concentrations did not change or decreased by up to 5%.
- Soot (EC): Depending on the local situation, the soot concentrations decreased by 0% to 55%.
These are also possible advantages :
- People and companies are more likely to opt for a new car and purchase a cleaner or electric vehicle
- less traffic
- The population is more aware of traffic as a major source of air pollution
- Less noise pollution
- Lower fuel consumption, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions
Knowing more
Environmental zone based on European emission category: Euro3 (minibus) or Euro4 (trucks)
London, UK
London is home to the largest environmental zone in Europe. The zone is 1500 km² and almost completely covers Greater London. The environmental zone applies at any time of the day and year. Cameras compare the number plates of the incoming vehicles with a database of authorized vehicles. A fine follows for vehicles that do not meet the standards and that have not paid in advance. Large vans and minibuses must comply with Euro standard 3 (PM). Euro standard 4 (PM) applies to trucks, buses and coaches. Since 2015, Euro standard 4 (NO x ) applies to the bus services of Transport for London (TfL).
Environmental zone based on European emission category: Euro4 (trucks)
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Amsterdam environmental zone currently applies to trucks from 3.5 tons that must meet Euro standard 4 or higher. Cameras monitor this environmental zone all year round. The study into the effect of this measure was conducted within the Joaquin project.
Environmental zone based on European emission category: Euro4 (trucks)
Copenhagen, Denmark
All diesel vehicles from 3.5 tons must at least meet the Euro 4 standard or be equipped with an approved particulate filter. The environmental zone in Copenhagen is permanently in force. An environmental zone sticker must be visible on the windscreen of incoming vehicles.
Environmental zone based on European emission category: Euro4 (diesel), Euro1 (petrol). All vehicles
Munich, Germany
In the environmental zone in Munich , diesel vehicles must meet at least Euro standard 4. Petrol vehicles must meet at least Euro standard 1 (or equivalent) and have a closed catalytic converter. All authorized vehicles must be provided with a sticker in this permanent environmental zone.
Environmental zone
Antwerp , Belgium - Start 2016
In November 2020, the Flemish Environment Department carried out an evaluation of the low-emission zones in Flanders. This shows that they effectively accelerated the greening of the vehicle fleet.
Because fewer (old) diesel cars and more petrol cars were driving around in the low-emission zone, the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and black carbon (soot) have fallen sharply. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) also fell sharply, both in the low-emission zone itself and in the rest of Flanders. A significant proportion of the inhabitants of Antwerp's low-emission zones are socially vulnerable and exposed to high concentrations of air pollution. The health gains from the arrival of the low-emission zones are the greatest for these residents. The full evaluation can be found here .
More information
- The website UrbanAccessRegulations.eu provides an overview of all implemented Environmental Zones in Europe.
- Transport for London makes a lot of information available on its website about the implementation and evaluation of the Environmental Zone in London.
- The Dieselgate scandal has meant that the drop in NO2 emissions has often been lower than originally expected.
- Environmental zones in the Netherlands (Netherlands)
