The low-emissions zone Madrid Central has been described as one of the most effective plans to reduce nitrogen dioxide in the European Union, in a new report by the European federation of environmental associations Transport & Environment (T&E). According to the study, emissions of the greenhouse gas have fallen 32% thanks to the initiative, which made 4.7 square kilometers of the city center off-limits to traffic, except for local residents and public transportation. This figure, however, is taken from the only measuring station within the low-emissions zone.
Toxic air is estimated to decrease life expectancy of every European by an average of almost one year
T&E report
Madrid Central was introduced under the former leftist administration of Manuela Carmena at the end of 2018. The current mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the right-wing Popular Party (PP), tried to suspend the plan when he took office in June, but was blocked by the courts which argued the measure was needed to stop pollution from rising “without any kind of control.” The plan remains in place and drivers who enter low-emissions zone without the proper permissions are fined €90, or €45 if the amount is paid immediately.
The report says that greater awareness of the problems associated with pollution has led all European cities to introduce or strengthen low-emissions zones that are off-limits to polluting vehicles. “More than 250 EU cities have already taken such measures,” according to the study, which pointed out that “toxic air is estimated to decrease life expectancy of every European by an average of almost one year.”
The report also added that 67% of EU citizens interviewed either “strongly” or “somewhat” support the introduction of low-emissions zones.
A rise in fines
Gloria Rodríguez-Pina
Fines for entering Madrid Central without authorization soared from 13,361 in May – when municipal elections were held – to 79,908 in June, according to local registers. That is a six-fold rise, which Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida said is proof that “Manuela Carmena and her team did not believe in Madrid Central.”
“What they wanted was a propaganda tool to help them win the election,” said the Popular Party (PP) mayor on Monday. The previous governing team says it opted for a gradual rollout of penalties, and the the goal was not so much sanctioning drivers as reducing pollution.
According to Nuria Blázquez, the transportation coordinator of the environmental group Ecologists in Action, which belongs to T&E, the main problem is that there is no clear “legal definition” of what is a low-emissions zone. The term could be applied to areas with strict restrictions or those with very little effectiveness. “That is the case, for example, in German cities, where there are only restrictions against the oldest vehicles, and there has been no change [in pollution levels],” says Blázquez.
The reason why Madrid Central is so effective is that only cars with a zero-emission tag can enter the low-emissions zone. All other vehicles (with some exceptions) must park outside the area, which dissuades drivers from taking to the roads.
The T&E report argues that low-emissions zones are key to the effectiveness of anti-pollution measure but says that neither Madrid nor any other mayor European city have met the EU limits on air pollution.
English version by Melissa Kitson.